In an open letter to all the presidential candidates, a conglomerate of the industry leaders in the technology sector is presenting what they hope will be a working agenda for the next president, regardless of who wins the upcoming election.
The letter reminds the candidates that the “pace of change has accelerated,” as many Americans feel unprepared for the future, and calls for a program that will “better prepare our citizens for the opportunities ahead.”
The group is asking for a plan to develop the skills of the American workforce, through investments in education and research, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and computer sciences to develop the “next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and workers.” The group also wants the next administration to welcome highly-skilled recruits from foreign countries to supplement the US workforce.
The platform includes an section on creating jobs and growing the US economy, to be accomplished by pursuing an active trade agenda of opening new markets around the world, and simplifying and updating the tax code, which the group called outdated and uncompetitive. Support for all forms of intellectual property, that would protect American trade secrets, and the advancement of flexible laws and regulations “that foster new innovations and promote competition and growth” were also included in the request.
Strengthening cyber security, and recognizing the importance of encryption as a critical security tool were also on the agenda. The group recommends enabling enhanced real-time, cyber security threat information sharing, focusing on cyber security risk management and training and education, among other options to accomplish this goal.
Policies that “narrowly target government access to user data, while ensuring law enforcement agencies have the appropriate information needed to protect our safety and security” were cited by the leaders as of high importance as well.
Calls for policies to propel innovation by protecting expression and creativity online, facilitating access to the spectrum and making more available for broadband and higher-value commercial use, and the development of an Internet of Things (IoT) strategy, round out the concerns from the group.
Lastly, the technology sector wants the government to welcome innovation from the public to encourage companies to participate in the federal market, by adapting policies that do not hinder the public sector participation.
The letter was signed by 13 of the nation’s top technology companies’ leaders.