Written by Doug | Sep 28, 2012 4:00:00 AM
Dear Technology Leader, I am delighted to let you know that Governor Brown minutes ago signed SB 1161 into law. This is a huge win -- approved with broad bipartisan support in both legislative houses -- that will enable California to maintain and even strengthen its role as an innovation leader in sectors like IT, networking and mobile communications. TechNet is proud to have been a sponsor of this legislation and have played a leading role in passing it. Passage represented a huge effort of many of our companies and a broad sector of groups dedicated to innovation, job growth and California's economic leadership and we appreciate the team work of so many who collaborated closely on this effort, including TechAmerica and SVLG. We are deeply grateful to Governor Jerry Brown for standing up for innovation on this important issue. The opposition was not broad, but it was certainly loud and determined. My deepest thanks to you and the other CEOs who helped with our advocacy, signing the CEO letter, making calls and helping us build support for this important legislation, legislation that will ensure that California maintains its pro-innovation regulatory posture towards Voice over IP and other IP-enabled services, until such time as the legislature directs otherwise. The terms of this restriction expire January 1, 2020. A copy of the enrolled version of SB 1161 is available at
http://tinyurl.com/9l4pxcu. Again, thank you!! Best regards, Jim Jim Hawley General Counsel and Senior Vice President, State Policy