Public Comment

CALinnovates Statement on “Morally Repugnant” Ad from the Hotel Association of New York City

SAN FRANCISCOAug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In response to an advertisement paid for by the Hotel Association of New York City, technology advocacy organization CALinnovates issued the following statement:

“It is morally repugnant to suggest an Airbnb connection to terrorism, just as it would be to tie the hotel industry to 9/11 simply because those terrorists stayed in hotels as they prepped for the attack. Let’s keep the debate between the hotel and home sharing industries to the merits, and not stoop so low as to exploit fears over terrorism.” – Mike Montgomery, Executive Director of CALinnovates

ABOUT CALINNOVATES
CALinnovates is a non-partisan technology advocacy coalition of tech companies, founders, funders and nonprofits.

This statement was originally released on PR Newswire.

CALinnovates Statement on the Appointment of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to the FCC

According to multiple reports, the White House has decided to nominate former FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel to return to the agency. We join a bipartisan chorus in declaring that it’s about time.

Should Rosenworcel’s appointment be confirmed by Congress, her return to the FCC will inject an even greater amount of wisdom and forward-thinking to this currently condensed policy-making body. As we noted when she was initially appointed to the FCC in 2012, and as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has correctly pointed out, Rosenworcel understands the rapidly changing nature of technology and the important role the tech sector plays in the innovation economy. Among the many issues Rosenworcel has championed that will return to the regulatory discussion include a vital continuation of the education and advocacy she continues to lead around the closing of the homework gap. The FCC and the nation will be well-served by her experience, expertise and intellect.

“Americans from Silicon Valley to the Hudson Valley will benefit greatly from Jessica Rosenworcel’s reappointment to the FCC. Welcome back, Commissioner Rosenworcel. You’ve been missed,” said Mike Montgomery, CALinnovates executive director.

CALinnovates Calls On Congress To Enshrine Net Neutrality Into Law

“Net Neutrality is a foundational principle in the digital age. But for too long its future has been uncertain due to changes in leadership and politics. That is why it’s important for Congress to do what only it can do through a bipartisan process: write into law the principles of Net Neutrality. Congressional action will provide innovators with a level playing field and industry with the certainty to make technology and investment decisions to continually upgrade our networks. If Net Neutrality is as important as we all say it is, it should be the law of the land, not a political hot potato resting on the third rail of American tech policy for another decade.” – Mike Montgomery, Executive Director

CALinnovates Calls on Congress to Enact Bipartisan Net Neutrality Legislation

February 7, 2016

The following quote can be attributed to CALinnovates Executive Director Mike Montgomery:

“To quote Yogi Berra, ‘It’s déjà vu all over again.’ Well into a decade of debate about Net Neutrality, it simply won’t go away. CALinnovates takes very little satisfaction in saying we saw this coming, but we’ve been calling for a Third Way that could affirmatively cement the tenets of Net Neutrality into law forever. Instead, Net Neutrality is apparently back on the table, perhaps having experienced a slightly longer shelf life than a ripe banana.

“By passing bipartisan Net Neutrality legislation, Congress can enshrine lasting laws into place that will remain immune to the whims of any particular administration and survive partisan politics. A regulatory roller coaster makes consumers and the business community queasy. Let’s settle this issue once and for all. The time is now.”

CALinnovates Lauds President Trump’s Appointment of Ajit Pai as New FCC Chairman

SAN FRANCISCO, January 23, 2017

“In our hyper-partisan country, we still need to be able to get things done. Ajit Pai understands this. He called it like he saw it during his previous term, and I look forward to him continuing to push the envelope as Chairman. To sum it up: Ajit is a hardworking ass kicker who understands the economic and policy concerns of the broad tech sector with an opportunity to unite the FCC in a bipartisan fashion after four years of sharply partisan rulemakings.” – Mike Montgomery, Executive Director

“Chairman Pai’s creativity and business expertise promise to help find a third way to solving our most pressing communication issues. CALinnovates congratulates Chairman Pai and looks forward to working with he and his team.” – Tim Sparapani, Senior Policy Fellow