Commentary
Capitol Connection: A roadmap for semi industry's future
brian toohey
2/1/2013 3:35 PM EST
As a nation, we stand at a crossroads that is critical to the future
of American innovation, and policymakers in Washington will help
determine our path.
I’m excited to kick off the new year with a new monthly column for EE Times that will examine the federal policies shaping the U.S. semiconductor industry, the broader tech sector, and the overall economy.
Semiconductors – the microchips that control all modern electronics – improve our lives, strengthen our country and build our future. As the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry in Washington, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is focused on advancing the industry’s key policy objectives for 2013.
In order to help keep America at the forefront of innovation and ensure the long-term success of the U.S. semiconductor industry, the Administration and the new Congress should take prompt action on the following priorities:
First, policymakers should facilitate open markets and protect intellectual property to fuel semiconductor industry growth.
As the semiconductor industry continues to expand to new areas across the globe, it has never been more important to promote free and open international trade and safeguard IP rights. In 2013, SIA will work to achieve broad duty-free coverage of advanced semiconductor technologies in the updated Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and promote industry priorities during Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and through the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), among other initiatives.
Second, Congress and the Administration should support federal funding for university research to discover the next generation of semiconductor technologies.
Although policymakers recently reached a deal to avert the fiscal cliff in the short term, a long term agreement on federal spending was delayed for two months, leaving critical federal R&D investments in jeopardy. SIA will work to protect funding for key semiconductor research programs at federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
Third, policymakers should streamline export control regulations to allow U.S. semiconductor companies to effectively compete in the global market while protecting national security.
As one of America’s top exporters, export control reform is critical to our industry. We strongly support appropriate controls on strategic technologies to protect national security, but excessive restrictions stifle the ability of American companies to compete abroad. We will work to secure relief on troublesome “rad hard” requirements, ensure the proper administration of recently-passed satellite decontrol legislation that benefits our industry, and advocate for comprehensive reform of integrated circuit controls, among other efforts.
Next: Wanted: Tax reform
I’m excited to kick off the new year with a new monthly column for EE Times that will examine the federal policies shaping the U.S. semiconductor industry, the broader tech sector, and the overall economy.
Semiconductors – the microchips that control all modern electronics – improve our lives, strengthen our country and build our future. As the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry in Washington, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is focused on advancing the industry’s key policy objectives for 2013.
In order to help keep America at the forefront of innovation and ensure the long-term success of the U.S. semiconductor industry, the Administration and the new Congress should take prompt action on the following priorities:
First, policymakers should facilitate open markets and protect intellectual property to fuel semiconductor industry growth.
As the semiconductor industry continues to expand to new areas across the globe, it has never been more important to promote free and open international trade and safeguard IP rights. In 2013, SIA will work to achieve broad duty-free coverage of advanced semiconductor technologies in the updated Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and promote industry priorities during Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and through the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), among other initiatives.
Second, Congress and the Administration should support federal funding for university research to discover the next generation of semiconductor technologies.
Although policymakers recently reached a deal to avert the fiscal cliff in the short term, a long term agreement on federal spending was delayed for two months, leaving critical federal R&D investments in jeopardy. SIA will work to protect funding for key semiconductor research programs at federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
Third, policymakers should streamline export control regulations to allow U.S. semiconductor companies to effectively compete in the global market while protecting national security.
As one of America’s top exporters, export control reform is critical to our industry. We strongly support appropriate controls on strategic technologies to protect national security, but excessive restrictions stifle the ability of American companies to compete abroad. We will work to secure relief on troublesome “rad hard” requirements, ensure the proper administration of recently-passed satellite decontrol legislation that benefits our industry, and advocate for comprehensive reform of integrated circuit controls, among other efforts.
Next: Wanted: Tax reform
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iniewski
2/1/2013 3:58 PM EST
Brian, interesting thoughts, would you be interested in sharing them at CMOS symposium in Whistler in July? details at www.cmosetr.com, kris.iniewski@gmail.com
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SIA Comms
2/4/2013 12:16 PM EST
Thanks for the invitation Kris.
Its definitely something that SIA will look into.
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bogdanbmcc
2/12/2013 2:51 PM EST
"protect intellectual property"? As long as this activity DOES NOT involve software patents where the abuse of the system is just ridiculous. The whole IP concept needs to be re-thought. As it stands now it is actually a roadblock to innovation, allowing the entrenched entities to protect their turf from possible innovative competition. The primary purpose of IP now appears to be blocking anybody, do they have better ideas or not. It does not matter if it is a better phone or not, it cannot be made if it is an oblong square...
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