TechAmerica Praises Obama’s Cyber Czar

By Rachel St. Amant- Talk Radio News Service

TechAmerica held a media briefing in which they announced their collaboration with the government on the 60 day cyber security project which will create cyber security office.

The association of leading technology companies came out in support of President Barack Obama’s plan to tie public and private institutions together in the hopes of enhancing cyber security.

“The President came out and visibly made his commitment to this effort,” said Enrique Salem, CEO of Symantec.

President Obama said “We need to develop new standards for the cyber-security that protects our most important infrastructures, from electrical grids to sewage systems, from air traffic control to our markets."

John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, said “The national security and economic health of the United States depend on the security, stability and integrity of our nation's cyberspace, both in the public and private sectors."

“We clearly articulated what the risk are, what the threats are,” Salem said.

Phil Dunkelberger, CEO of PGP Corporation agreed, saying “I thought it was important that he (President Obama) linked cyber security to the future of the U.S.”

TechAmerica also affirmed its satisfaction for the new cyber security office regarding the security it will provide to small businesses and individuals.

Dunkelberger argued that “Those (security) rights should be encouraged and that is what the government does.”

On the new collaboration between the public and the private sectors Harriet Pearson said “The relationship that the administration is building is going to be key.”

Despite the efforts of the previous administration to address this topic, TechAmerica seems more enthusiastic about Obama’s plan.

Phil Bond said “ What makes it a fundamental shift is the personal commitment taken by the president”, adding that “He is putting a lot of chips on the table, politically.”

However, Salem warned that “I think its important that we do not let it get caught up in the bureaucracy.”

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TechAmerica is a trade union representing more than 1500 technology companies that have reached a consensus on priorities for their portion of the Recovery Act.

Christopher Hansen, CEO of TechAmerica, stressed repeatedly that his membership places their emphasis on investment in innovation, and on “Not just employment now, but companies which will benefit America for decades into the future.”

The association’s top priorities are:

Health: Computerized healthcare, from software to next generation broadband to electronic medical records. “America can still lead the world in medical technology innovation,” Hansen said.

Jobs, education, training,research and development: Hansen acknowledged that maximum benefits now require shorter-term investments, but that we also need to invest now in order to have the scientists and engineers to keep America in front of technology into the future. Josh Lamel, Senior V.P., Federal Government Affairs, added that $400 million had been set aside for high risk, high potential, basic research, “So we’ll be developing technologies that we aren’t even talking about yet.”

Government Management: Modernizing government via technology and technological expertise.

National/Homeland/Cyber security: New technologies for military, intelligence and security.

Green: The group has a strong focus on alternative energy development as a long-term investment.

Immigration: The thrust here was not to restrict but to facilitate immigration for highly skilled people, especially those who are trained in America but are not citizens. Lamel noted that H1B immigration visas have become more difficult to obtain under the new bill.

Broadband: Needs to be faster and more universally available as more and more businesses depend on it. Many jobs become possible in low employment areas if broadband is available.

Trade and patent policies need to encourage innovation, their position paper concludes.