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NEWS FEED
Primer: Online Sales Tax
A primer about online sales taxes and why they matter to startups.
Primer: Value of Section 230
A primer on the costs of Section 230 and why even the threat of lawsuits can hurt startups.
Primer: Copyrights
This primer provides an overview of copyright issues and what they mean for startups.
Primer: Patents
A primer that provides an overview of patent issues and what they mean for startups.
Engine and Tech:NYC Support Sen. Moran and Warner's Startup Act
Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced their Startup Act, bipartisan legislation intended to encourage job growth and the creation of new innovative businesses. In 2017, the senators last introduced this legislation, which would accelerate the commercialization of university research, review and improve the regulatory processes at the federal, state and local levels, and modernize an Economic Development Administration (EDA) program designed to promote innovation.
Primer: Telecom
A primer on Telecom—specifically Net Neutrality and Broadband Access—and why it matters to startups.
Startup News Digest 1/25/19
The Big Story: GDPR’s biggest hit yet. The French privacy watchdog has issued a $57 million fine against Google, the largest fine yet under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, the sweeping privacy rules that went into effect in the European Union last year.
Startup News Digest 1/18/19
The Big Story: AG nominee talks tech. Ongoing tech policy issues were a recurring topic during this week’s confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department, William Barr.
Startup News Digest 1/11/2019
California collecting input on privacy law. The process of implementing a new California privacy law kicked off in earnest this week as state Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office held its first public forum on the issue.
#StartupsEverywhere: Conway, Ark.
Kim Lane, the Conductor’s CEO and all-around ecosystem builder, has seen the region change dramatically with the help of the public and private sectors. Kim and her team work closely with policymakers to develop policies that encourage entrepreneurship. Healthcare and education are top on her policy wishlist.
Engine Submits Comments to Bureau of Industry and Security on Export Controls
Engine responded to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on their Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the review of export controls for certain “emerging and foundational technologies.” The ANPRM is part of the recently passed Export Control Reform Act of 2018 which seeks to curb exports on national security technology.
Startup News Digest 1/4/2019
New year, new Congress, same issues. The new year and the new Congress kicked off this week, but many of the policy debates that concerned startups in 2018 will continue on. As the Democrats take control of the House and the gavels of key committees, expect vigorous oversight of the Trump administration across the board, which is likely to impact several of the policy areas startups care most about, including trade, net neutrality at the Federal Communications Commission, and more.
Engine Weighs in on Proposed H-1B Visa Requirements
Engine filed comments with the Department of Homeland Security on a proposed rulemaking that would change the registration requirements for H-1B visas.
Startup News Digest 12/21/2018
Lawmakers up privacy push after latest Facebook scandal. Following a bombshell report this week about Facebook’s data sharing practices, lawmakers are renewing their push for federal privacy protections for consumers online.
#StartupsEverywhere: Phoenix, Ariz.
Robyn Exton, founder of HER, started her company in Europe and expanded to the United States, offering a unique perspective of the ecosystems. Robyn is supportive of policies that encourage more inclusive and diverse companies, from gender to country of origin.
Startup News Digest 12/14/2018
The Big Story: How the new trade deal affects startups. After months of negotiating a new trade deal between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the three countries’ leaders signed onto a new trade deal—the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA—late last month.
#StartupsEverywhere: Santa Clara, Calif.
We met with Thuc Vu, cofounder and CEO of OhmniLabs, a startup that produces home robots that help people communicate at a distance. Vu and his team have partnered with policymakers to help communities in their healthcare and workforce development efforts. As OhmniLabs continues to grow, Vu hopes policymakers look for solutions to immigration reform and incentivizing research and development.
How Startups are Assessing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
As 2018 comes to a close, one key policy area that is sure to take center-stage in 2019 is the passage of the updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While the USMCA is a big win for startups in several areas, Congress should continue to push the Administration in two areas to ensure that entrepreneurs will flourish under the new agreement. Overall, the USMCA sets a high standard for future free trade agreements and will positively impact the growth of American startups.