Spring 2O20 • aztechcouncil.org
IN THIS ISSUE
Arizona Technology Report
Arizona Technology Council: The Voice of the Technology Industry
President’s Message
2 Legislature considers bill to fund STEM hub
Arizona’s technology industry is thankful to have a leader like Sen. Kyrsten Sinema working hard in Washington to address some of the 3 Lawmakers weigh extending most pressing issues Arizonans … tax credit programs no, make that all Americans face today. This goes double for her recent 4 New health plan quickly announcement that she and Sen. Roger catches on among members Wicker of Mississippi together will take up the matter of net neutrality to 5 Four executives take their advance a bipartisan, forward-thinking places on Council board Steven G. Zylstra, solution. President and CEO, Arizona Technology Council The trouble with current legislative efforts to secure net neutrality — namely, the Save the Internet Act passed The Arizona Technology Council is by the House — is they are rooted in the past. Arizona’s premier trade association for If the term “net neutrality” is new to you, let’s turn to Webster’s for an unbiased science and technology companies. definition: the idea, principle or requirement that internet service providers should or must treat all internet data as the same regardless of its kind, source, or destination. In simplest Phoenix Office terms, that means you and I get an equal shot at googling “net neutrality” and getting 2800 N. Central Ave., Suite 1530 Phoenix, AZ 85004 results without your waiting in a longer line because my provider is considered preferred. Phone: 602-343-8324 • Fax: 602-343-8330 Essentially, this legislation in its current form would try to enforce regulations written info@aztechcouncil.org for the telephone industry in 1934 but apply them to the 21st century internet. That approach is beyond illogical. The measure would make it harder for broadband providers Tucson Office 1215 E. Pennsylvania St. to invest in deploying high-speed internet networks to rural and underserved communities Tucson, AZ 85714 in Arizona. Phone: 520-388-5760 The Save the Internet Act also would only apply to a small portion of the online tucson@aztechcouncil.org ecosystem, leaving many major internet technology companies from oversight. Any law governing net neutrality must include and be equally enforceable to all parties. MANAGEMENT AND STAFF This is especially true now that consumers and regulators across the United Steven G. Zylstra President + CEO States are calling into question the impartiality of their online experiences. Leigh Goldstein COO + Vice President, Programs + Events It’s widely understood today that many companies are using their size and Jill Brownley Director, Marketing + Communication influence to unfairly censor differing opinions and have frequently engaged in Deborah Zack Senior Director, Membership Services Laura DeGeorge Executive Assistant to President + CEO anti-competitive behavior. There is, quite simply, no good reason not to include Jeff Sales Executive Director, Southern Arizona Regional Office them in net neutrality legislation. Jamie Neilson Director, Operations, Southern Arizona Regional Office That’s why the Arizona Technology Council is excited to see Sinema take Laura Ann Di Meo Accounting Manager Angelica Espinoza Bookkeeper on this issue and work with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass Don Rodriguez Editor truly modern legislation that will secure net neutrality, promote innovation and Ron Schott Executive Emeritus, Phoenix protect all internet users from the broad range of threats they face online. SCITECH INSTITUTE “As innovation continues to leap forward, the dynamic and creative nature Steven G. Zylstra, President + CEO of the internet should be encouraged, not inhibited, by regulations,” Sinema and Jeremy Babendure, Ph.D., Executive Director Kelly Greene, COO + Director of Student Success Wicker wrote in a USA Today op-ed they co-authored recently. “The internet is Nikki Micale, Arizona CSO Regional Lead one of the greatest forces for entrepreneurship in history. We need to update it Caillou Pena, Government Relations Specialist Dee Quintero, Office Manager with a framework for the future.” Michele Roy, Grant Writer No politics, no positioning. Their finding neutral territory to accomplish a Brocton Rye, Marketing and Communications Manager shared agenda is a lesson from which members in both chambers can learn. Michael Tarber, Accounting Manager
WHO WE ARE
Max Walsh, Tucson Cabinet Lead Kaci Fankhauser, STEM Ecosystem & CSO Enrollment Coordinator Enrique Garcia, Signature Event Advisor & STREET Team Coordinator Katy Reno, Advanced Technologies Outreach Coordinator Don Ruedy, Executive Emeritus, Tucson
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ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY REPORT
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