Influencing the Business and Political Landscape for Entrepreneurs

Public policy is one of the major strengths and differentiators of the Council. As the leading policy voice for information technology companies in Massachusetts, the Council has worked closely and effectively with key Massachusetts state officials and Members of Congress for well over a decade. The Council is proactively engaged in ongoing dialogue about the potential impact of state and federal legislation on the software and technology industry.

The Council's public policy goals emphasize innovation, entrepreneurship, and competition in a market-based economy. Our efforts on behalf of the industry focus on:

Promoting the Growth of the Internet

• Promoting a positive balance between technology and privacy;
• Keeping computer crime laws in Massachusetts updated (as it relates to such issues as phishing, sending of viruses, identity theft, etc.);
• Ensuring tax neutrality for the taxation of Internet transactions; and
• Accelerating the deployment of broadband services (cable modem, DSL, satellite, wireless).

• Supporting the growth of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) pipeline;
• Preserving the ability of entrepreneurs to attract and retain a workforce through the granting of stock options; and
• Preserving the ability of entrepreneurs to allocate resources globally and cost effectively.

• Strengthening copyright protection in the Internet environment; and
• Ensuring opportunities for all kinds of software - proprietary, open source, and mixed solutions.

• Making the R&D tax credit permanent.

The Council has played a leadership role in a number of technology policy victories at both the state and federal levels. At the state level, our successes range from helping to craft the original computer crime bill to working to ensure that schools have money for educational technology to expanding the funding opportunities of the state's quasi-public venture capital firm. Nationally, we have had a decisive impact on such issues as H1B visas and taxation of Internet transactions. In addition, we are very active in many of the national coalitions on technology policies.