The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today praised the U.S. Senate for its inclusion of key stimulative measures in the Jobs and Economic Growth bill passed last night. Provisions allowing for accelerated expensing of broadband investment and a tax cut for income brought back into the U.S. for investment will help the high-tech industry grow, innovate and create new jobs.

The broadband amendment offered by Senators Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) provides for a two-tiered accelerated expensing allowance to telecommunications service providers that deploy new broadband technologies to rural and underserved parts of the country. Senator John Ensign’s (R-Nev.) repatriation amendment allows for a one-year period during which U.S. companies may bring back money from their foreign subsidiaries at a lower rate, for investment in their U.S. operations.

“The measures included by the Senate in this bill will spur business investment and stimulate the economy,” said EIA President Dave McCurdy. “We have supported the broadband tax incentive legislation since its inception and believe it is an excellent vehicle for expanding the Internet’s reach. Similarly, we believe the income U.S. companies will be able to bring back to the States under the repatriation provision will prove to be a boon to job creation, research and development and business growth. We hope to see these measures in the final bill passed by Congress and look forward to the boost they will provide for the high-tech industry and the U.S. economy as a whole.”