Economists have long recognized that technological innovation and enhanced communication increase productivity and reduce friction in economic activity. And never before has technology’s impact on economic growth been as evident as it is today.
At IPI, we focus on technology and communications policy not only because it’s critical to economic growth, but also because government’s inherent tendency to regulate prospectively poses an active threat to the economic gains and lifestyle enhancements made possible by technological innovation.
The communications and technology industries are among the country’s most competitive and the biggest capital investors in the U.S. economy, and are thus prime engines of economic growth and job creation. It is critical that public policy encourages continued innovation and investment in the tech sector, and that we don’t limit the innovation upside with counterproductive taxes and regulations.
Assistant USTR Optimistic About Strong, Balanced Intellectual Property Provisions in TPP
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative-Intellectual Property and Innovation Stan McCoy is optimistic that negotiators of the Trans-Pacific Partnership can come to a "world-class result" for "strong and balanced" intellectual property protection, despite ongoing debate over the rigidity of those protections, he said at an IPI forum commemorating World Intellectual Property Day.
International Efforts to Take Over the Internet, with Support from the U.S.
The threat of foreign governments taking over the Internet is real, and the U.S. government is helping those efforts.
Internet sales tax again on agenda
While Rep. Steve Womack takes another crack at legislation that would help states collect taxes on Internet sales, IPI's Bartlett Cleland warns the measure would hurt businesses. Cleland says businesses will shoulder the burden of increased audits and additional tax payments that should be collected by states "who can't figure out how to clean up their own messes internally" and collect the tax from customers.
Keep Austin Wired!
Investment in tomorrow’s broadband infrastructure does not require federal stimulus, but rather requires elected officials and regulators to ensure the appropriate conditions for investment.
Enzi's 'Marketplace Fairness Act' a Trojan horse
If passed, the MFA will increase taxes as “multiple jurisdictions lay claim to the same transaction and demand payment,” said IPI's Bartlett Cleland. The proposal “does away with any requirement that a business have a physical connection in a jurisdiction before it can be required to levy taxes on its sales.”
Wyoming U.S. Sen. Enzi: Online sales tax isn't new tax
IPI's Bartlett Cleland says the Marketplace Fairness Act would compel businesses to comply with every single tax code in the nation if they want to sell their goods everywhere. And noncompliance could mean a costly audit from the states where sellers are sending their products.
The Financial Facts of Broadband
An understanding of basic finance and math seem to be beyond the grasp of some broadband industry critics.
Taxman Eyeing Cable Services
Nearly a half-dozen tax proposals affecting Internet operations are expected to appear on the congressional agenda, with many of them affecting broadband and cable services.
Government Wrecking the Health IT Market
Congress and the White House pursued getting more people health insurance when they should have been removing barriers to better health.
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