Lana Sansur Posts

Keeping policy makers informed and educated keeps the technology industry agile. So, we sat down with Elizabeth Hyman, executive vice president of public advocacy at CompTIA, to learn what the advocacy arm at CompTIA is doing to support the business of technology – specifically promoting an environment that supports free and open competition, advocating for a highly skilled and technical workforce, and encouraging collaboration and cooperation.

Last week, the CompTIA State & Local Government and Education (SLED) Council hosted its first SLED Summit of the year at the Verizon Tech & Policy Center in Washington DC. We heard from government and public sector leaders, the federal government and other local leaders who dove into issues relevant to our SLED Council membership. One of our speakers was Charles Cooper, executive vice president of the Signal Group who provided a federal tech policy government outlook with a deep dive into the current administration and how federal policies will affect policy and tech spending at the state/local level.

On the morning February 14, we held the Capitol Hill Speaker Series at the 2018 CompTIA DC Fly-In. It featured high-ranking officials from the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Homeland Security and provided Fly-In attendees with an informative overview of government priorities for the coming year around the tech agenda. It also gave attendees added knowledge of tech issues before hitting the halls of Congress for Fly-In meetings.

On February 13th, we held our 7th annual CompTIA Tech Champion Awards dinner at the 2018 CompTIA DC Fly-In. The Tech Champion Award is given to one member of the House of Representatives, one member of the Senate, and one executive from industry who has exemplified leadership in the technology sector and have championed policies that advance the country's information technology (IT) industry.

Blockchains have emerged as possibly one of the next big transformational technologies for government use in an effort to provide citizens with easy, online access to services and transactions. Blockchain technology is also at the forefront of many private industry sectors, including banking, real estate, and health care.

Earlier this year, the FCC concluded its broadcast incentive auction, which repurposed 84 MHz of low-band broadcast spectrum for (primarily) licensed wireless use. While this spectrum will go a long way towards boosting wireless connectivity and capacity, it represents what is likely the last time such a large swath of low-band spectrum (below 3 Ghz) will ever be available at auction.

Our nation relies on a modern, highly-skilled workforce to remain competitive and innovative in today’s global economy. Yet current policies are inhibiting our ability to find and retain top-talent as well as cultivate a sustainable long-term talent pipeline that is required to achieve a strong 21st century workforce. At the 2018 CompTIA DC Fly-In, our Tech Policy Summit kicked off with a panel titled “Taking a Holistic Approach to Achieve a Skilled America” which examined high skilled immigration reform, improvement to STEM education curriculums, and job training.

The annual 2018 CompTIA DC Fly-In kicked off with a working lunch on Tuesday, February 13 to bring attendees up to speed on the CHANCE in Tech Act, (H.R. 3174 and S. 1518). The legislation was built from meetings and feedback from last year’s DC Fly-In and presents an important opportunity to create a stronger pathway for apprenticeships within the technology sector.

Last week, CompTIA hosted the first in a series of webinars for the newly established Emerging Technology Committee which represents the federal, state and local ecosystems. The webinar titled, “Drones and Smart Cities: Transforming the lives of Citizens,” examined drones and their ability to deliver services more rapidly and more efficiently to residents and how the influx of emerging technologies such as drones will help develop smart cities.

In recent years, we have seen a growing trend of state CIOs serving as a broker of services as opposed to owning and providing the service themselves. This has involved a significant culture shift and a commitment to systems integration. Arizona has been a leader in this regard. In this final panel at the 2017 State Tech Summit, we learn what this shifting model has meant for government proficiency to meet constituent needs.