COMPTIA AD OPPOSING TAUZIN-DINGELL RAISES IRE OF LARGER MEMBERS
Full-page ad blasting data deregulation legislation that appeared Wed. in The Hill has elicited consternation from some of largest members of Computing Technology Industry Assn. (CompTIA). CompTIA ad, which featured student wearing dunce cap repeatedly writing on blackboard, “I promise to obey the rules of the Telecom Act,” was printed despite neutral stances on bill taken by some of CompTIA’s computing industry member company behemoths, industry lobbyists said. Lobbyists said ad stemmed from “communications breakdown” between CompTIA leadership and some of its most influential members on bill (HR-1542), which was introduced by House Commerce Committee Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and ranking Democrat John Dingell (Mich.) to lift restrictions on provision of data services by Bell companies across in-region interLATA boundaries.
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CompTIA said placement of ad had been approved by group’s public policy committee and full board of directors. Public Policy Mgr. Tom Santaniello said CompTIA had made no bones about its opposition to Tauzin-Dingell, which it has criticized consistently since its inception. He said no members had voiced opinion against CompTIA’s public denouncing of bill: “I wish they'd come forward and express their concerns. I have not heard one company voice any concern during the board approval process.”
One computer industry lobbyist, whose company is high-profile CompTIA member, didn’t dispute that ad went through approval process but said not all association members had opportunity to participate. He said most of largest group members either were neutral on Tauzin-Dingell or even supportive of at least some of its provisions. Any impression that major players in computer industry are supportive of CompTIA’s action would be false, he said.
Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson said ad wasn’t surprising. “The opposition is engaging in a do-anything and say-anything strategy designed to kill the bill,” he said. “Now it looks like they'll spend anything it takes as well.” CompTIA ad is latest in series of both pro- and anti-Tauzin-Dingell campaign initiatives. TV, radio and print ads have been provided by HR-1542 supporters such as FasterNet.org and ConnectUSA and opponents including ALTS and Voices for Choices.