Lobbyists for tech industry hit Boise – TechNet says Idaho needs national voice

A lobbying organization for the technology industry has initiated a chapter in Boise.

Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

The Silicon Valley-based TechNet http://www.technet.org/ — which stands for Technology Network — launched its Northwest office in Seattle earlier this year, and on Tuesday, representatives met with executives from Treasure Valley tech firms.

The organization lobbies for federal legislation that promotes and is favorable toward the technology industry.

Members of TechNet´s executive council include Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina, Intel Corp. CEO Craig Barrett and Cisco Systems President and CEO John Chambers.

“Idaho has a pretty significant tech community, and we think they should be more involved on the national level than they are now,” said Rick White, CEO of TechNet.

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, who attended Tuesday´s meeting of TechNet and Treasure Valley tech executives, said the group could help propel Idaho´s technology reputation forward into a national light.

“Idaho has a strong technology community and it needs to promote it more effectively,” said Crapo. “It´s important that we recognize the benefits that come from being a player in this arena, and also being recognized as a player.”

Phil Bradley, a founder and chief financial officer for Boise software firm ProClarity Corp., said the opportunity to network with other technology firms for similar legislative goals was important for smaller companies.

“When you´re a small company, it´s hard to be involved directly,” said Bradley.

National legislation — the main focus of TechNet — is also of more concern than state legislation, he added.

“Ninety-five percent of our sales are outside of Idaho, and one-third of our sales are outside North America,” Bradley said. “Issues about free trade have a significant impact on us. The federal tax code, Sarbanes-Oxley, and the ability to do business around the world is of most importance to us.”

Mark Falconer, HP´s northwest government affairs manager, said with Fiorina as part of the executive council, the firm supports TechNet spreading its reach into Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

“HP has 10,000 employees in those three states,” said Falconer, adding that the huge global firm has its own lobbying arm. “An organization like TechNet serves as a critical extension of our own lobbyists for us. We find that more is achieved by working with other companies.”

While TechNet is not opening an office in Boise, White said the plan is for the organization to host monthly and quarterly events for the technology community here. Those events will allow technology executives to discuss policy issues and meet with legislators about those issues, he said.

TechNet supports political candidates by hosting fundraiser events and inviting members to attend.

Membership fees for TechNet are on a sliding scale, based on annual revenues.

At the top end, a firm with more than $1 billion in annual revenues would pay $60,000 a year, while companies with under $25 million in annual revenues would pay $3,000.

The Silicon Valley-based organization also has offices in other technology regions such as Boston, Austin and Orange County.

To offer story ideas or comments, contact Julie Howard
[email protected] or 373-6618

http://www.idahostatesman.com/Story.asp?ID=47698