Immigration, workforce

Business groups such as SIA and TechNet generally advocate, at least tacitly, expanding the number of H1-B visas and easing immigration for technical workers, claiming the U.S. has a tight talent pool. Of course, sentiment runs strong among rank-and-file engineers on the hot-button issue of offshoring as well as the H1-B visa program.

IEEE-USA has said the government must at least study the issues. Specifically, the group wants the government to "examine the costs and benefits of offshoring R&D"and the practice's "potentially adverse impact on U.S. scientific leadership and technological competitiveness." The organization also asks the government to reform H1-B and all other temporary-visa programs to prevent abuses that displace U.S. workers and underpay foreign workers.

Obama has said he supports a temporary increase in the H-1B visa program while he studies broader immigration reforms. He suggests the reforms could include easing the path for immigrants who earn degrees in the United States to remain in the country to work and become citizens. He also suggests his plan would include expanding the numbers of permanent work visas available.

Edwards does not address the issue directly but has said he would provide more money for training, grants and expanded unemployment benefits, especially for unemployed people who form startup companies.

Giuliani, Huckabee and Romney have said they would expand the number of H1-B visa available. Huckabee and Romney would seek to streamline immigration procedures to open the doors to more skilled foreign workers, with Romney calling for regular reviews of the program, as well as consolidation of numerous federal worker-retraining programs.

Both Huckabee and McCain emphasize "securing the borders" as a key plank of their immigration platforms. McCain has vowed to overhaul unemployment insurance to make it a program for worker retraining and relocation.

Internet policy, patent reform

As a group, the candidates have had surprisingly little to say thus far on these visceral topics for industry.

In talks at Google headquarters, both Edwards and Obama said they advocate Net neutrality, including preventing Internet suppliers from restricting the content or devices allowed on their networks. Separately, Obama has sketched out a plan to increase the Federal Trade Commission's enforcement budget to fight cybercrimes such as spamming, spyware and phishing.

McCain would make permanent a ban on Internet taxes that is up for renewal soon. He has also said he does not support any new taxes on cellular phone services.

Only two candidates--both Democrats--have commented on patent reform, and both have espoused relatively vague positions. Edwards and Obama have said they believe in patent reform and in fully funding the U.S. patent office. Obama has also called for a citizen review of the patent process.

Under the Bush administration, funds are no longer being diverted from the patent office, which faces a backlog of as many as 750,000 applications. And the office instituted a number of streamlining measures in 2007.

The Senate is due to take up its version of a landmark patent reform bill that the House of Representatives passed in September.

The IEEE-USA is generally taking a position closer to the patent holders' side in this debate, calling for laws that "support entrepreneurial efforts." Business groups such as TechNet are calling for "rational improvements to the litigation system that end abusive patent lawsuits."

Some industry interests have called for the president to set a broader agenda on intellectual property as part of the legal infrastructure for innovation. But thus far, none of the candidates has articulated such a vision.

Create $13 billion fund for developing renewable energy sources -Edwards Broadband Mandate universal broadband by 2010 Patent reform Support patent reform, fully fund patent office

Make U.S. energy- independent in eight years -Huckabee

Invest $150 billion over 10 years in alternative energy, digital electric grid -Obama Broadband Mandate universal broadband (date unspecified), review spectrum use eHealth Spend $10 billion to move to electronic systems Immigration Expand H1-B temporarily, studying immigration reform Internet Increase budget to enforce laws against spam, spyware and phishing

Cap carbon emissions and set up auction system for trading carbon permits -McCain Workforce Reform unemployment insurance to focus on retraining Internet policy Make Internet tax ban permanent

Create $50 billion energy fund for development and use of alternative technologies -Clinton Basic research Create high-profile awards, expand NSF fellowships Broadband Update FCC definition of broadband performance

Economy Reform Sarbanes-Oxley to aid small businesses -Romney