The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) applaud the U.S. Senate’s inclusion of telecommunications research funding in its innovation legislation, the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science (COMPETES) Act (S. 761), which was passed by an 88-8 vote yesterday.

"The research provisions in S. 761 are good for the future of communications technology, the future of our industry and the future of U.S. innovation," TIA President Grant Seiffert said in reaction to S. 761’s passage. "We commend the Senate for its work to create a better research environment for TIA’s member companies and other communications technology innovators in the U.S."

S. 761 includes a section entitled "Federal Information and Communications and Technology Research," which will establish an information and communications technology board within the National Science Foundation, as well as a grant program for basic research into advanced information and communications technologies that can enhance the availability of communications services throughout the United States. S. 761 provisions will also accelerate research in areas vital to communications, such as wireless communications, network security and reliability and communications interoperability.

"The more intelligent investment our government and private sector makes in both robust research programs and students developing their technical talents, the brighter the prospects become for domestic innovation and the workers who make it happen," said Mike Kennedy, the Electronic Industries Alliance’s chairman of the board and Motorola senior vice president. "The Senate took a strong vote for continued American excellence in a fiercely competitive global market. This just proves that this matter is bipartisan and urgent."

"Research is the backbone of the communications industry, and we congratulate the Senate on investing in increased accessibility and advanced communications services for all Americans. TIA strongly urges the House of Representatives to adopt similar language to include a telecommunications research grant program and join the Senate in passing legislation that can bolster communications innovation in the U.S," said Seiffert.