i3 | February 06, 2017

Encouraging Innovation in Washington, D.C.

The CTA Innovation House on Capitol Hill is a unique venue for educating policymakers and staff, enabling them to experience the cutting-edge technology that drives our innovation economy.

The Innovation House is an overwhelming success as it approaches its second anniversary with more than 100 events held in 2016.

These events range from political fundraisers, to policy briefings, coalition meetings and product demonstrations. CTAPAC hosted more than 35 fundraising events at the Innovation House in 2016 with more than 120 members of Congress visiting the space, including Republican and Democratic House leadership.

The house has also been used as the base of operations for several legislative fly-ins, including the annual CTA Congressional Lobby Day and a Patent Reform Lobby Day. CTA member companies use the Innovation House for events, such as Snapchat, Google, and Phone2Action.

Recent events include a reception honoring the Congressional Tech Staff Association, AT&T’s Girls Who Code Technology Camp Session, an industry reception honoring the passage of TSCA Reform and product demonstrations featuring 3D Printing and AR/VR technology. The Innovation House continues to expand CTA’s presence on Capitol Hill and serves as a hub for the technology industry in Washington.

CTA’s Internet of Things: A Framework for the Next Administration

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing how the world works. Soon, virtually everything will be connected, and devices from a tiny thermostat to large factory equipment will harness this power to create huge benefits for individuals, the economy and our society. Through products and services in the areas of audio/visual, smart home, wearables, transportation and others, the IoT will save consumers time and money, drive economic growth and enhance our nation’s role as a global tech leader.

On November 16, CTA released its paper, Internet of Things: A Framework for the Next Administration, which looks at the opportunities and challenges of IoT consumer applications and addresses the ways policymakers can encourage and support growth. The paper also examines IoT success stories, such as how IoT technologies can help aging individuals and persons with disabilities to live independently.

The important efforts of the bipartisan, congressional Internet of Things Working Group and the Department of Commerce underscore that policymakers must approach the IoT with the twin goals of promoting consumer confidence and trust and preserving maximum flexibility to innovate.

IoT at the Innovation House

On November 16, CTA also hosted a lively event at its Innovation House that featured several key government and industry IoT leaders. Gary Shapiro, CTA’s president and CEO, kicked off the event by interviewing Rep. Darrell Issa and Rep. Suzan DelBene, followed by interviews with FTC Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen; Director of Digital Economy and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce, Alan Davidson; Senior Vice President, Public Policy for Samsung John Godfrey and Vice President, Global Policy for AT&T Jeff Brueggeman. The discussions offered insights on how industry and government can work together to ensure the successful growth of IoT.

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