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Maintaining U.S. AI Leadership and Expanding Adoption
For the U.S., small businesses, and startups to compete, America must draw upon its advantages like its high-skilled workforce and existing legal frameworks while getting AI-specific policies right in the areas of responsible use and resources. Unfortunately, states like Colorado and California have started a patchwork of sweeping laws that could cost the economy over $50 billion in GDP and a quarter million jobs.
What Policymakers Can Do: Congress must pass legislation that prevents states from doing Congress’s job and enacting sweeping AI laws that impact other states.
Enacting Robust National Privacy Protection that Create One National Standard
Congress must pass national privacy legislation that protects all Americans equally. It should also pass a privacy law with strong preemption
to ensure that a confusing patchwork of laws is eliminated. Such legislation should draw upon the Consensus Privacy Approach adopted in states like Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Nebraska, and Colorado, which already protects over 100 million Americans by giving them the right to access, correct, and delete data as well as opt out of data sales and certain automated profiling and targeted advertising. Congress should avoid imposing overly burdensome strict data minimization requirements that inhibit personalization, innovation, public health, and security. Enforcement of data privacy legislation should rest with the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general and not with easily abused private rights of action.
What Policymakers Can Do: Pass national privacy legislation based on the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act with strong preemption, reform enforcement of state wiretap laws like the California Invasion of Privacy Act and biometric laws to prevent abusive litigation, and enact workable children’s privacy protections that preempt a patchwork.
Defending Data Centers
Data centers power everything from e-commerce, payment systems, social media, and entertainment. They also will be vital to ensuring America’s dominance in emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence. The Chamber will push forward with evidence-based reports and advocacy that show the vital benefits these data centers have for national as well as local competitiveness. At the same time, activities and communities are showing increased antagonism to data centers based upon concerns around energy and environmental concerns.
Maintaining Connectivity Leadership and Removing Regulatory Barriers to Communications Deployment
America is home to innovative communications technology companies and a diverse media marketplace that is changing how Americans are connected, communicate, and receive information. However, there still exist many impediments on a federal, state, and local level that are preventing the necessary buildout needed for our reliance on digital tools.
What Policymakers Can Do: Congress can pass permanent permit streamlining provisions that enable different types of connectivity to be deployed more efficiently. The Federal Communications Commission can also remove barriers to network modernization as well as support accelerating network build plans including streamlining and resolving permitting issues, and clearing transactions. Policymakers should also minimize federal, state, and local regulations that distract from putting the customer first and investing in new technology. Policymakers should enact pro-investment fee policies at the state and local level.
Policymakers, to meet the needs of the nation in developing next generation connectivity, should move forward with predictable, coordinated, and timely spectrum allocation and management.
Unlocking the Benefits of AVs
AVs will increase safety and save lives, reduce the economic costs of traffic accidents, create jobs, increase mobility for people with disabilities and the elderly, and improve air quality. Policymakers at the Department of Transportation and Congress should advance a policy agenda that enables the safe, scaled deployment of automated vehicle technology.
Enabling Innovation Safely and Securely in the National Airspace
New technologies such as small drones and advanced air mobility are revolutionizing the national airspace by creating new transportation solutions for Americans, enabling small businesses to reach more customers, and lowering costs through increased productivity. The Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have taken the first step by advancing a proposed rule on Beyond Visual Line of Sight. The Chamber encourages the Department to finalize a workable rule as well as finalize Section 2209 rules around critical infrastructure. At the same time, Congress and the administration must ensure the security of the airspace from malicious drones by enacting comprehensive counter-drone legislation.
Ensure Sensible Online Governance
The internet and online apps have enabled greater convenience, free flow of thought, and the ability of small businesses to compete with larger companies. In 1996, Congress enacted Section 230 of the Communications Act, which generally prevents interactive computer services from being liable for the activities of third-party content. Since 1996, the internet and the data-driven economy have thrived. Congress should reject calls to outright repeal this landmark law. Additionally, government should avoid advancing policies that restrict the First Amendment protected speech rights of individual private citizens and online platforms. Policymakers should also work to limit the exposure of American companies developing and using technology and communications equipment to abusive litigation and overly broad liability.
Ensuring U.S. Technology Stack Dominance
As America works to establish itself as a leader in AI, quantum, emerging transportation like automated vehicles and advanced air mobility, and advanced manufacturing, the nation will need to make sure that it has the capacity to meet its electricity, supply, and labor needs. The U.S must continue to shore up its supply of semiconductors by removing nonessential regulatory impediments. America must work with its allies and lead in exporting its technology stack in a secure manner.
Bolstering Research and Development
America should bolster its investments in basic research and development. At the same time, it must avoid attaching unnecessary strings to funding things such as march in rights, which will threaten intellectual property rights and discourage innovation. Policymakers should also work to establish ways to commercialize emerging technologies like quantum.
Government Efficiency and Modernization
Government must work better and more efficiently for its citizens. The federal government and the states must make keen long-term investments in digital transformation and automation. Such investments should be done to prioritize outdated legacy systems and deemed to be in the public interest. Such investments should be done with rigorous government oversight to ensure that they are a good use of taxpayer funds. Congress must prioritize digitizing government and opening data for research.
Maintaining U.S. AI Leadership and Expanding Adoption
For the U.S., small businesses, and startups to remain competitive, America must leverage its high-skilled workforce and existing legal frameworks while implementing AI-specific policies that promote responsible use and resource allocation. Unfortunately, states like Colorado and California have introduced a patchwork of sweeping laws that could cost the economy over $50 billion in GDP and a quarter million jobs.
What Policymakers Can Do
Enacting Robust National Privacy Protections
Congress must pass national privacy legislation that protects all Americans equally and eliminates the confusion caused by a patchwork of state laws. This legislation should draw upon the Consensus Privacy Approach adopted in states like Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Nebraska, and Colorado, which grants individuals rights to access, correct, and delete data, as well as opt out of data sales and certain automated profiling. Overly strict data minimization requirements that hinder innovation, public health, and security should be avoided. Enforcement should rest with the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, not private rights of action prone to abuse.
What Policymakers Can Do
- Pass national privacy legislation based on the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act with strong preemption.
- Reform enforcement of state wiretap and biometric laws to prevent abusive litigation.
Defending Data Centers
Data centers are essential for powering e-commerce, payment systems, social media, and emerging technologies like AI. The Chamber will advocate for evidence-based reports and policies that highlight the benefits of data centers for national and local competitiveness. Simultaneously, concerns about energy and environmental impacts must be addressed. The Chamber’s Technology and Innovation Policy Center and Global Energy Institute will work to ensure Americans reap the benefits of data centers in an affordable manner as well as meet our energy growth demand.
Maintaining Connectivity Leadership and Removing Regulatory Barriers
America’s innovative communications technology companies and diverse media marketplace are vital to connectivity. However, federal, state, and local barriers hinder necessary infrastructure buildout needed to facilitate the digital tools on which our economy relies.
What Policymakers Can Do
- Pass permanent permit streamlining provisions to enable efficient deployment of connectivity infrastructure.
- Support the Federal Communications Commission in removing barriers to network modernization and accelerating build plans.
- Minimize regulations that detract from customer-focused investments in new technology.
- Enact pro-investment fee policies at the state and local levels. Policymakers, to meet the needs of the nation in developing next generation connectivity, should move forward with predictable, coordinated, and timely spectrum allocation and management.
Unlocking the Benefits of Automated Vehicles (AVs)
AVs promise to enhance safety, reduce traffic-related economic costs, create jobs, increase mobility for people with disabilities and the elderly, and improve air quality. Policymakers at the Department of Transportation and Congress should advance policies that enable the safe, scaled deployment of AV technology.
Enabling Innovation Safely in the National Airspace
Technologies like small drones and advanced air mobility are revolutionizing transportation, enabling small businesses to reach more customers and lowering costs. The Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration should finalize rules on Beyond Visual Line of Sight and critical infrastructure. The Administration must effectively implement newly passed counter drone authorities to protect against malicious drone use.
Ensuring Sensible Online Governance
The internet and online platforms have enabled convenience, free expression, and small business competitiveness. Section 230 of the Communications Act has been instrumental in this success. Congress should reject calls to repeal this landmark law and avoid policies that restrict First Amendment rights or expose companies to excessive liability.
Ensuring U.S. Technology Stack Dominance
To lead in AI, quantum technologies, advanced transportation, and manufacturing, America must address its electricity, supply, and labor needs. Policymakers should remove regulatory impediments to semiconductor production and work with allies to securely export U.S. technology.
Bolstering Research and Development
America must increase investments in basic research and development while avoiding policies that threaten intellectual property rights. Policymakers should also establish pathways to commercialize emerging technologies like quantum.
Government Efficiency and Modernization
Government must operate more efficiently for its citizens. Investments in digital transformation and automation should prioritize outdated legacy systems and be subject to rigorous oversight to ensure taxpayer funds are used effectively. Congress must prioritize digitizing government and opening data for research.
About the author
Jordan Crenshaw
Crenshaw is Senior Vice President of the Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC).