TIA’s CTO Council Developing Policy Recommendations for Advancing Network Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR CONTACT: ASHLEY ROOK, RATIONAL 360, +1.202.429.4929, AshleyRook@Rational360.com
 
TIA’s CTO Council Developing Policy Recommendations for
Advancing Network Security
 
Recommendations to Focus on R&D and Network Security as Critical Elements for
Ensuring Global Competitiveness
 
Arlington, VA (December 20, 2012) – The Telecommunications Industry Association, the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, today announced that its CTO Council is developing recommendations to guide Congress in enacting policies that support the growing security needs of U.S. businesses. With participation from companies including Dell, McAfee, Nokia Siemens Networks, Genband and others, the TIA CTO Council is currently exploring the increasingly vital connection between network security and competitiveness, and will issue a set of policy recommendations in January.
 
“When we consider ways to ensure the future competitiveness of American businesses, we can’t afford to ignore the enormous need for robust data and network security,” said Danielle Coffey, TIA Vice President of Public Policy.  “Security breaches cost businesses billions of dollars each year, slow innovation and erode consumer confidence. Our goal is to help policymakers understand the connection between security and competitiveness, and to encourage the development of policies that help U.S. businesses remain competitive in a global marketplace where security is essential to success.”
 
Phyllis Schneck, Public Sector CTO for McAfee and a participant in the TIA CTO Council commented, “The Internet has become one giant malware transport system, and the costs for businesses are enormous. Ensuring that U.S. ICT businesses can adequately protect their systems is essential for allowing them to grow, create jobs and compete globally.”
 
Duncan McBranch, Director of Los Alamos National Labs, who also participated in the Council’s December meeting, said, “We work with industry to protect intellectual property against theft, and Los Alamos is constantly a target of attacks ourselves. The problem is rapidly getting worse, and the telecom industry has to hasten the solution.”
 
A central focus of the CTO Council recommendations will be the importance of government support for technology research and development.  As part of TIA’s efforts to advance R&D, the group also announced today it has sent a letter (attached) to Senate and House Leadership urging for retroactive extension of the R&D tax credit to apply to 2012. In the letter, TIA President Grant Seiffert writes, “We urge your support for the retroactive extension of the research & development tax credit as part of any year-end “fiscal cliff” legislation. The expiration of the credit at the end of 2011 significantly harms American competitiveness during this time of economic uncertainty.”
 
About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents manufacturers and suppliers of global communications networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. TIA enhances the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org for more details. 
 
TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and is a proud sponsor of ANSI’s Standards Boost Business campaign. Visit www.standardsboostbusiness.org for details.
 
 
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