1999 Report of the AITP Legislative Committee

Overview

The AITP National Legislative Committee, chaired by Charles Oriez, advises our members and the Association Board of Directors on legislative initiatives primarily in the US Congress, but also in the Canadian Parliament, various European bodies, and the 50 state capitols of the United States.

Major publications

The legislative committee has taken as one of its charges the task of developing issue briefings on various technology-related topics that are the subject of either legislative or legal action. This helps our members in developing a clear understanding of the implications of various issues to themselves and to their businesses. These briefing papers are published regularly in the Information Executive newspaper for the benefit of our members.

In 1999, the committee has produced these major briefings on numerous topics:

The European Union's data transport privacy regulations and their implications to US businesses. (Charles Oriez)

The new UCITA regulations dealing with shrinkwrap software licenses. (Tim Plas)

Issues related to the export of encryption technology (Charles Oriez)

The debate over mandatory licensing of software engineers (Ken Adams)

State initiatives related to technology. focused on the Virginia efforts. (Craig Kennedy)

Legislative initiatives

One of our key areas of responsibility includes the development of AITP positions on legislative issues. Among the positions taken in the past are:

Endorsed the Smith anti-spam proposal, and opposed the Murkowski proposals which would have legitimized it

Endorsed Representative Goodlatte's various bills loosening export restrictions on export technology

Opposed the UCITA shrinkwrap license language

Opposed one of the proposals to tax internet transactions or traffic, although we are less likely to take that stance in the future given the apparent lack of federal legislative interest in pursuing such taxes, and the need to focus on issues of more immediate concern.

Other initiatives and activities

Members of the committee have had their commentary published in numerous magazines and newspapers or been quoted as sources in various publications, as experts on technology issues associated with AITP. These publications have included CIO Magazine, Infoworld, PCWorld, National Journal's Technology Today, and numerous local or regional newspapers. We've also been used by numerous trade and mass market journalists to provide reliable background information on issues related to technology.

Members are participating in various states in efforts to adopt planks on Democratic and Republican Party platforms dealing with technology issues. One committee member has been appointed to his party's platform committee in one state to take the lead role in this area. In this effort, we are cooperating with other organizations with interests and agendas which are similar to ours.

We joined with EPIC, ACM, and others in an amicus (friend of the court) brief in a federal legal case in Ohio dealing with encryption export, advancing the same pro-relaxation position we have taken in our legislative initiatives. A similar case is currently on appeal in California, after being won by a plaintiff advancing the same position that we are.

We regularly provide overviews to Information Executive on legislative issues being faced in the Congress, legislatures, and the courts.

We are viewed as experts on legislation. As such, the CIAC hoax advisory page accepted an AITP Legislative Committee article exposing one of the various internet tax hoaxes, and published it with attribution as the definitive word on the subject.

Priorities for the Coming Year

Priorities are set in part by legislative action, the desires of the AITP ABOD members, and the interests of the members of the committee. While continuing to monitor those issues discussed above, it is likely that we will be developing more detailed AITP positions and briefing papers on issues such as spam, privacy, and internet access issues.

Construction of the Committee

The committee consists of about 16 members from both the United States and Canada who regularly discuss legislative issues from both countries. Participation in the committee is open to any AITP member, and is strongly encouraged. Anyone who communicates with the ABOD or with Information Executive expressing a viewpoint on an issue will be expressly invited to join the committee and to participate in developing AITP's future positions. This is true especially if the viewpoint expressed differs from the position held by the committee or organization.

To join the committee, visit our web page from the national web page at <http://www.aitp.org> and subscribe to our discussion list. You'll receive a subscription confirmation, and end up on the committee, holding forth with the best of us. If you appear to be particularly expert or passionate in a particular issue area, you may be asked to develop the committee's white paper on that topic for Information Executive, or to develop our detailed legislative position. Don't let that throw you though - there are numerous people on the committee who can assist you in the political details.

Feel free to contact the committee via our web page, contact the committee chair, Charles Oriez, at aitp@oriez.org, or join the legislative discussions on the AITP web page forum at <http://www.aitp.org>. And above all, participate in the electoral process in your own community to ensure that candidates are elected who understand technology.