The Association of Imaging Technology and Sound (ITS) continues to make progress in its Washington, D.C., lobbying efforts. It recently enlisted the support of Rep. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-La.), chairman of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Communications Commission (see separate story, p. 1). The ITS is seeking financial assistance for post facilities in making the transition to DTV, including hi-def television. Among the means being considered are: a research and development tax credit; a change in equipment depreciation schedules; and a loan program that might involve the Small Business Administration.
As earlier reported (SHOOT, 11/5/99, p. 22), the ITS’ Southern and Northern California chapters have enjoyed success in gaining the ear of California legislators, resulting in a state sales tax exemption on qualifying new equipment purchases.
And while some view a federal R&D tax credit as a long shot in this session of Congress, there’s still cause for optimism. During a public hearing in January (SHOOT, 1/28, p. 1), Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, described the R&D tax credit proposal as a legislative "opportunity," in that there’s "tremendous interest in helping technology on both sides of the aisle [in Congress]."
Indeed, the ITS has made significant strides on state and federal government levels. It is important that the industry have a voice in the body politic—particularly during this turning point, as new media and technologies emerge, resulting in a lobby that’s becoming crowded.
The Silicon Valley lobby, for example, won an increase in high-tech visas so that skilled foreign talent could be hired to compensate for an alleged shortage of qualified American workers (SHOOT, 10/23/98, p. 1). This hike of the H-1B visa cap has also benefited visual effects and CG houses that have had to scramble for capable artisans in an allegedly sparse homegrown talent pool. And now there’s talk on Capitol Hill of increasing the allotment of H-1B visas again, in light of the fact that the raised caps have been met ahead of schedule (SHOOT, 3/31, p. 1). For example, the annual limit of 115,000 visas for fiscal year Oct. 1, 1999 through the end of September has already been reached. The Immigration & Naturalization Service stopped accepting new H-1B visa applications last month.
Meanwhile, in recent weeks, eBay, Amazon.com Corp. and DoubleClick Inc., among others, have hired D.C. lobbying staffs, set up offices and stepped up political contributions in a bid to influence whether and how the federal government regulates the electronic commerce industry. Dot-com firms are preparing for battle over such issues as Internet taxation, online privacy and data protection. Last summer, NetCoalition.com was formed and billed as being the first Washington lobbying group of purely Internet-based companies. Its founding members included America Online, Inktomi Corp., Lycos Inc., and theglobe.com.
Then there’s the National Entertainment Coalition, a group of organizations representing different segments of the filmmaking community. The coalition was formed in response to concern over runway production (SHOOT, 1/28, p. 1).
Building some form of lobbying muscle has become essential, noted ITS chairman David Case, who is also president of Pittsburgh facility Production Masters Inc. "We have the attention of some key legislators," Case said. "The postproduction industry is hitting their radar screens."
