CSPP Recommendations

Recommendation #1:Forge a New Partnership to:

In a global economy, the success of the U.S. computer industry depends more than ever on its ability to deliver products to market quickly.

But government policies often hamper that effort.

U.S. antidumping law, export control policies and other international trade regulations and government procurement practices are trailing changes in technology and the market. To remain a world technology leader, the U.S. must harmonize its trade and technology policies.

CSPP urges the Administration and Congress to work with industry to create a task force to identify policies and practices that harm leading U.S. high-technology industries.

This task force, led by the National Economic Council, would analyze current government policies and propose changes which would:

Ideally, this task force would also serve as an ongoing forum for review and analysis of government policies which have the potential to disrupt the balance between the country's trade and technology policy objectives and hamper a company's time to market.

Quote -- James E. Ousley, President, Control Data Systems -- "Maintaining U.S. international competitiveness demands that our government ensure worldwide access to markets and technologies and promote, not restrict, exports of high technology products.

Recommendation #2: Establish Open Markets Worldwide

The ability to sell products and access technology worldwide is essential to our industry's continued success. That is why the U.S. Government must aggressively push other countries to open their borders to free trade.

At the same time, the U.S. Government must ensure that its own policies and practices enable leading U.S. industries to sell their products in every available market.

CSPP recommends that the government work toward open markets worldwide by:

Quote -- Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Chairman & CEO, IBM -- "Continually bringing competitive products to market in the fast-paced global environment requires access to the best technology, products, and people from all over the world.

Recommendation #3: Facilitate Accelerated Deployment of an Enhanced NII

An enhanced NII will put communications, computers, and other technology to work for all citizens who want and need access to information, whether for work, health care, education, job training, or entertainment.

It will also:

As CSPP outlined it its January 1993 report, Perspectives on the National Information Infrastructure, the government must work with industry to:

Quote -- Robert E. Allen, Chairman & CEO, AT&T -- "The public and private sectors have important roles in making the enhanced information infrastructure a reality. Development and deployment of the infrastructure must be led by the private sector, guided by the forces of a free and open market. The Federal Government must accelerate its implementation by acting as a catalyst and a coordinator."

Quote -- Lewis E. Platt, CEO, Hewlett-Packard -- The NII will spawn thousands of information products and services, capitalizing on U.S. strengths in key technologies and the willingness of American entrepreneurs to seize the limitless opportunities that will exist."

Recommendation #4: Improve Federal R&D Spending Priorities and Incentives

The nation's return on the federal R&D investment could be boosted significantly if government and industry set common priorities for R&D. Such a partnership would also help U.S. high-technology firms maintain their competitive edge, enabling them to bring products to market more quickly.

CSPP looks forward to working with the Federal Government to:

Quote -- Robert B. Palmer, President & CEO, Digital Equipment -- Working together, industry and government can improve the effectiveness of the federal R&D investment by re-focusing spending on pre-competitive, generic technologies with commercial relevance.

Change / Public Policy