TechNet (lobbying organization)

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TechNet is a United States political lobbying organization which represents technology companies and issues in the policy arena. Former Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale, Cisco CEO John Chambers and venture capitalist John Doerr created TechNet in 1997 to shape public policy impacting U.S. innovation and technology leadership. TechNet has since become the preeminent organization representing chief executive officers of the nation's leading high technology companies.Through the power of its network, TechNet continues to have a strong impact on public policy driving a stronger education system, investments in research and development, legal reform, broadband and Internet policy and other issues critical to U.S. innovation and global competitiveness. TechNet's 200 CEO members are the nation's leading innovators in the fields of information technology, Internet and e-commerce, biotechnology, venture capital and investment banking. TechNet members represent more than one million employees in these fields. Its members include HP, Sun Microsystems, EMC, JP Morgan, Cisco, AMD, Applied Materials and many others. TechNet has offices in Washington, DC, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Orange County (California).

The 2007 TechNet Policy Agenda:

TechNet supports initiatives that will strengthen America's education system, increase the number of Americans attaining degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and ensure a high-skilled 21st century workforce;

TechNet supports policies that spur entrepreneurship, employee ownership and small business growth;

TechNet supports policies to spur green technologies and achieve energy security, economic competitiveness and enhanced protection of the environment.

TechNet supports patent litigation reform efforts to end meritless lawsuits that are a drain on resources and innovation;

TechNet advocates policies to spur the rapid deployment of broadband networks and consumer access to Internet content and services, and to ensure the continued growth and vitality of the Internet.

TechNet calls for a strong national investment in research and development through increased federal funding for basic research and enactment of a permanent R&D tax credit;

TechNet supports international trade policies and agreements that expand markets for U.S. industry.^{[citation needed]}