The Innovation Movement

U.S. Internet Speeds Slowing Down: Report
TMCnet
By David Sims
January 19, 2010

It's as official as these things ever are: The United States does not rank in the Top Ten in Internet speeds.

News from the Trenches: November 20, 2009 Dispatches from the Innovation Economy: News Highlights from the Week U.S., S. Korea Forge Ahead on Trade Despite Criticism Fox News By Kelly Chenenkof November 19, 2009 S. Korean President Lee addressed the concerns of both U.S. autoworkers unions and auto companies head-on, "If there is (sic) any problems in the automotive sector…then we are ready to resolve this issue." Europe Poised to Pounce on Stalled U.S.-Korea Trade Deal Washington Times By Andrew Salmon November 18, 2009 Failure by the United States and South Korea to ratify a 2007 free trade agreement has American businesses fretting that European competitors may be about to outflank them. Group Urges Tougher US Stance On China Trade, Currency Dow Jones By Judith Burns November 19, 2009 The United States needs to take a more aggressive approach in attacking unfair trade practices and currency manipulation by China, a bipartisan U.S. commission said Thursday. Bailout Program Could Be Extended Washington Post By David Cho, Michael D. Shear and Lori Montgomery November 19, 2009 The Obama administration is poised to extend the life of the highly unpopular $700 billion financial bailout and, to display a commitment to fiscal responsibility, is planning to use much of the leftover funds to reduce the national debt, government sources said. Bigger U.S. Role in Broadband Is Likely Wall Street Journal By Amy Schatz November 18, 2009 WASHINGTON -- The Federal Communications Commission began to lay the groundwork for a bigger federal role in the broadband business Wednesday, outlining the hurdles the U.S. needs to overcome to improve the availability of high-speed Internet access. The Green Supply Chain MarketWatch By Stephanie I. Cohen November 17, 2009   A major selling point for the green jobs movement has been the near guarantee that renewable energy and green tech sector jobs will be tied to U.S. soil -- wind farm technicians and solar panel installers in China or India can't service turbines in Iowa and roofs in California. The Decline of Western Innovation Newsweek By Daniel McGinn November 16, 2009 Only a slight breeze blew across the plains of Inner Mongolia on a recent afternoon, but the giant turbines at the Huitengxile Wind Power Field were spinning steadily. This facility, 200 miles northwest of Beijing, has 550 turbines churning out enough juice to power a small city, and inside a monitoring station, plant manager Zhang Jianjun points to a wall chart showing the 11 different suppliers of the high-tech windmills. Four are Chinese companies, but when Zhang is asked to pick his favorite, his nationalism is trumped by a desire for quality. "General Electric," he says, citing its reliability. "I'm excited when all of the turbines are working."

Below please find the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA)® Innovation Checklist delivered to Congress earlier this year. CEA asked Congress to evaluate every bill by the following six criteria:

Does this bill create American jobs?
For years, the technology industry has been the engine transforming the U.S. and world economies. In the U.S. alone, our industry provides more than 15 million high-paying, high-skilled jobs. We urge you to only support bills that create jobs by letting us do what Americans do best -- innovate and create. It means opposing card check as it will drive jobs overseas.

Does this bill spur new technology?
Our nation is home to the world's most innovative and creative companies. We urge you to only support bills that help up preserve and expand our technological leadership, and reject any bills that may stifle  innovation. This means rejecting corporate bail outs, as bailed out companies have failed and protecting them is rewarding failure and sucking capital out of the system for start-ups and innovators. It means no new or higher taxes on innovation or investment.

Does this bill encourage the best and brightest to come to the U.S.?
Our nation is a melting pot that has attracted not only the best and the brightest, but also risk takers who wanted something better for their children. Many of our top technology companies were founded by first or second generation immigrants. We urge you to support bills that encourage the best and brightest to come to America and reject attempts to unreasonably tighten our borders or reduce educational or employment opportunities for highly-qualified immigrants.

Does this bill reward innovation and unvestment?
We have been successful because our marketplace rewards successful innovators. Distaste for Wall Street excess is creeping over to other areas, and legitimate entrepreneurs are being punished. Risk takers create jobs, and innovation flourishes if entrepreneurs are allowed to be dynamic, nimble and flexible. We urge you to reject any bills that threaten the ability of any business to innovate and move quickly in a competitive environment.

Does this bill promote exports?
The best stimulus is profitable American businesses. We urge you to support bills that let Americans compete by exporting our products to the 95 percent of the world's consumers who live outside of the U.S. and reject bills that would discourage international commercial engagement. This means opposing higher tariff and Buy America provisions and supporting free trade agreements like those pending with Panama, Colombia and South Korea.

Does this bill foster productivity and energy efficiency?
America was the leading provider of the 20th century's key technologies. It is essential that we maintain the same role with respect to the key technologies of the future. High speed broadband is the critical enabling application for the digital economy, and our level of broadband deployment should be higher. For America to compete, consumers and businesses need access to and a choice of broadband providers. Similarly, technology products are vital tools for saving energy -- enabling telecommuting and, through programs like ENERGY STAR, ensuring consumers have the information they need to select energy efficient products that suit their needs.

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