Nebraskans are no strangers to blazing new trails. Our state’s rich heritage is deeply rooted in our pioneer history. Nebraska’s early settlers dared to move beyond the status quo — the established land and way of doing things — to explore a new and untamed territory.
Generations later, that same pioneer spirit is alive and well in Nebraska. Businesses here continue to blaze new trails in the tech sector, pushing the limits of innovation to find new solutions to everyday problems. These new ideas not only improve lives, but they also create new jobs and grow the economy, especially in rural areas.
Innovations in e-commerce, distance learning and telemedicine continue to revolutionize our day-to-day lives and create more opportunity for prosperity right here at home. Thanks to technological advances, farmers are able to more efficiently grow and harvest their crops. New e-commerce tools allow individuals to start small businesses at home and sell goods worldwide. With companies like Paypal, Yahoo and FirstData operating in Nebraska, our state is poised to be a new frontier for Silicon Valley-caliber innovation. Our business-friendly environment serves as a magnet for small developers and large companies alike.
Unfortunately, the status quo continues to paralyze Washington. Outdated federal policies and stale federal regulations have not kept pace with the rapid development of technology -- not only in Nebraska, but across the nation. The next round of cutting-edge technology is just around the corner, and the government needs to be prepared to embrace it.
To stay ahead of the curve, I've developed several principles that can help our country maintain its high tech edge, a proposal called "A Fresh Technology Agenda for Growth, Innovation, and Opportunity." It's an effort to spur a real debate about the best federal policies to empower creators and consumers.
As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, I have put our nation’s tech policies and regulations under the microscope, and I’ve seen how flawed and dated they’ve become. I’ve worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to change the way Washington views technology.
One place that needs attention is telecommunications, an area I also focused on as Chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee in the state Legislature. Nebraskans depend on access to broadband Internet and reliable telephone service to stay connected with friends and family, as well as to compete in the marketplace. I’ve worked to eliminate onerous fees that have made rural Internet expansion cost prohibitive. I have also called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make rural call completion a priority so consumers and businesses across our state have access to quality, reliable service.
Inventors in Nebraska and across the nation take risks by developing new products. They should not face added challenges from a clumsy bureaucracy that cannot respond promptly to new requests for technology licenses. The burdensome approval process can take years and cost innovators millions of dollars. That’s why I introduced legislation requiring the FCC to be more nimble and act on new applications for tech licenses within a year. This ensures that cutting-edge businesses can continue their creative momentum without getting bogged down in prolonged federal processes.
It is increasingly important that new healthcare applications are vetted in a timely manner, using up-to-date rules and regulations. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to tie up new health IT tools in red tape that predates the VCR. If a company can develop a tool that can keeps Nebraskans out of the hospital, improves lives, or lowers costs, the government should not stand in the way. That’s why I introduced a bipartisan bill, the PROTECT Act, that prevents new health technology from being subjected to outdated or irrelevant regulations.
These are just a few of the projects I am focusing on to modernize federal policies for innovators. I believe the best ideas don't come from beltway bureaucrats, but rather from innovators who are willing to color outside the lines and think differently.
Right now, government is stuck in an analog mindset, while innovators have moved the rest of the country into the digital age. Ultimately, government must do a better job of listening and understanding the tech industry. I welcome ideas from our state’s small business leaders and innovators to improve our federal policies and promote growth and innovation.
Click here to read on The Lincoln Journal Star's website.