New Democratic Congress may be most tech-friendly in history

[DeepModem Mom]

Tech politics: Friends up on Capitol Hill
From 'net neutrality' to foreign worker visas, the new Congress may be the most technology-friendly in history.
By Chris Taylor, Business 2.0 Magazine senior editor
November 13 2006



(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- Amid all the post-election noise, Democrats haven't been subtle about their top priorities once they take control of Congress: boost minimum wage, reform Medicare, rescind the 2001 tax cuts, and clean up "the swamp" of Washington lobbying.

Here's why: Yes, Nancy Pelosi, the presumptive new Speaker of the House, hails from one of the most liberal parts of the country, San Francisco. But she also represents a city that's near the heart of America's tech sector.

A year ago this month, after extensive meetings with VCs and entrepreneurs, Pelosi unveiled an "innovation agenda" that called, among other things, for broadband access for all Americans, whether it comes via Wi-Fi, Wi-Max or a fixed line by 2010....

***

One issue that's near and dear to Silicon Valley's heart: H-1B visas. These permits allow foreign engineers, programmers and other highly-skilled professionals work in the United States for three to six years. The base number of visas issued each year for skilled workers is capped at 65,000, which is a huge concern for tech giants, like Intel and Hewlett-Packard, which have an insatiable appetite for engineers and programmers from India and China....Now that Rep. George Miller (D-California) is likely to chair the Education and Workforce committee, tech companies are optimistic the H-1B cap will now be increased.

Another hot-button tech issue likely to get resolved: net neutrality. This is a complicated battle with telecoms and the cable industry allied in one corner, and consumer advocates in the other. The telecoms want to charge premium rates to allow customers to navigate the Internet at top speeds....A proposal outlawing high-speed toll booths failed in the House earlier this year, and met with a heartbreaking 11-11 tie in the Senate's telecom committee. But now that both House and Senate are in Democratic hands, it's far less likely telecoms and cable companies will succeed....

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/10/magazines/business2/election_tech.biz2/index.htm?cnn=yes

[stellanoir]

1. that's great

One factor that has contributed to the insecurity of our recent elections is that so many representatives are clueless about the technology involved.

So this inspires hope for reform.

[madmusic]

2. Isn't that an indictment of our educational system?

Nothing against it, but why not kick up education, too? They probably will, just sayin'.

EDIT: H-1B visas.

[Bitwit1234]

3. Internet

Can we get the new congress to SAVE THE INTERNET.

[Ms. Clio]

4. So they support importing non-citizens to take middle class jobs?

Yes, let's all fight about the undocumented tomato pickers instead.

H-1B workers earn less than American counterparts, report says Updated at 10:36 AM

News Story by Patrick Thibodeau

JANUARY 03, 2006 (COMPUTERWORLD) - WASHINGTON -- H-1B visa IT workers earn on average $13,000 less than their American counterparts, according to a study of U.S. Department of Labor records released by the Center for Immigration Studies.

H-1B workers are paid less, even though the law requires that they receive prevailing wages, according to the study by John Miano, a former chairman of the Programmers Guild, a group that has been critical of the H-1B program.

(snip)

The H-1B "has destroyed the entry level job market," Miano said in an interview, adding that he believes keeping the cap at its current 65,000 level will at least minimize the damage.

Recommendations for improving the wage disparity, which can put downward pressure on the rates paid to U.S. workers, include limiting the number of H-1B visas that an employer can obtain each year based on the number of U.S. employees at each company, as well as requiring companies to use a “standard wage source” produced by the federal government when making prevailing-wage claims.

The report also suggests that the ability of H-1B workers to seek better wages from other employers be limited. The H-1B visa has a six-year limit but allows the foreign worker to apply for permanent residency. While visa holders can change jobs, Miano says a worker who changes employers is unlikely to get permanent residency.