About ITAA's Internet Program

Internet enabled innovation continues to drive the US economy forward. accomplishment. To realize the further potential of the Internet, barriers to the deployment of technology by enterprises in all industry verticals around the world must be kept low, and the rollout of high speed Internet access to consumers nationwide must not be promoted. Complex federal procurement regulations, differing healthcare technology standards, tariffs and trade barriers and pressure from incumbent network service providers are all obstacles to Internet driven change. The ITAA Internet Program works with government and industry to assure the adoption of programs and policies that remove Internet barriers and facilitate widespread, competitively priced access to Internet content and services.

Perhaps the best way to think about what can otherwise be a complicated subject is in terms of the three Rs: richness, reach, and reliability.

• Richness refers to the type of information and transactions available online. Much of the future success of broadband will depend on the ability of owners and consumers of copyrighted materials to come to terms over their online use. Issues here include intellectual property protection, content proliferation, the protection of children from objectionable content and exploitation, the disintermediation of protectionist business and professional models, and the convergence of delivery formats in ways that enhance the online experience.
• Reach is all about the ability of consumers to gain wide access to Internet services and content. One of the most important elements here is fair and open competition among providers, whether that competition takes place in a domestic market or in a country around the globe. So here, in addition to competition, we must talk about globalization, interoperability and standards, ubiquity and ease of use. The U.S. has led the world in developing and deploying telecommunications and the Internet.
• Reliability means having confidence in an online experience. As in the physical world, when people go online they want to feel like they are safe from personal attack, that their confidential records will not be compromised by snoops or thieves, and they will not become the target of spam merchants, scam artists and tricksters. In this area, public policy must address privacy, security and consumer protection. And the providers must continue to innovate in technological tools for both the users, and the networks. Users also have to play a role in taking responsible steps to stay informed.

The ITAA Internet Program has built an impressive track record of accomplishment in moving industry, policymakers and consumers to these goals. ITAA is a frequent contributor of comments, briefs and filings before the Federal Communications Commission on matters impacting competition in the delivery of network services. ITAA has strongly defended the status of information services providers as telecommunications customers, not subject to common carrier regulation. This distinction may be somewhat obscure to the casual observer but has led to the creation of the robust, competitive Internet marketplace enjoyed by business and consumers today. Other ITAA Internet Program accomplishments include multifaceted initiatives in areas such as E-Health, VoIP, and interactive media.