Technology industry groups increase advocacy with new site

Seeking to ramp up their advocacy efforts in D.C., CompTIA and a range of regional trade organizations launched a website Monday aimed at representing small- and medium-sized technology companies.

Dubbed an "online public advocacy platform," TechVoice will help users connect directly with their representatives, stay updated on legislative actions and issues, said Liz Hyman, vice president of public advocacy for ComtTIA, an advocacy group that represents a group of IT companies.

"With technology issues coming up again and again on the Hill, small companies need their voices heard," she told Tech Daily Dose. "TechVoice will be a grassroots tool that we hope will build momentum on some of the issues that are important to these companies."

CompTIA partnered with the Technology Councils of America, or TECNA, which represents almost 40 regional technology trade associations and 16,000 companies. The website will address a range of issues, including workforce development, small business concerns, healthcare IT, green IT, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data breach and privacy.

While TechVoice represents a push for more technology advocacy on Capitol Hill, its designers hope to reach policymakers and the media as well.

"Although the TechVoice community consists primarily of CompTIA and TECNA's member companies, it is also geared towards anyone with a vested interest in technology policy," said Matthew Nemerson, president and CEO of TECNA. "At a time when our nation is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, TechVoice is a valuable resource for anyone in the business or public policy realm."