Henry Waxman, Green Energy and Technology Win First Fight of the New Congress

title=What Could Go Wrong? A Lot, It Turns Out}

"It is a little too early to say how much and what kind of change these guys will bring," said Roger Cochetti, group director of U.S. Public Policy for CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association). "Their track records are important but running a committee is an entirely different thing."

Ed Black, president and CEO of CCIA (Computer and Communications Industry Association) said there is "nothing automatic" about the new chairmen. "The upside is not to be underestimated, but I don't find them an easy read."

Other Washington tech industry advocates were even more circumspect, at least on the record. Speaking anonymously because of the sensitive nature of establishing working relationships with the new chairmen, several industry leaders praised the changes in Congress while others expressed reservations about the impact on the industry.

"Tech is a tremendous energy user, particularly with its huge server farms," said one. "Given Waxman's environmental and energy positions, yes, there are concerns about the additional cost of regulations and the potential liabilities that come with new energy policies."

The executive noted, for instance, that Waxman is likely to crack down on e-waste and that raises concerns for the consumer electronics industry. "There [are] always trade-offs, but this one may be hard to take," the executive said. On the other hand, the same executive said, new energy policies could allow for "tech innovators and investors to use their entrepreneurship to good advantage."

Rearranging the deck chairs

Rockefeller, considered a friend to the telecom industry, is a cause for concern among those looking for reform.

"Let's face it, the Bells have owned the Bush administration and the FCC for the last eight years," said one. "That won't happen under Obama and these chairmen, but Rockefeller still has strong telecom ties. He was a strong voice for telco immunity [telephone companies being given immunity for domestic spying ordered by the Bush administration]."

But CompTIA's Cochetti praised Rockefeller as "something of a technologist. He has a longstanding interest in technology and, deep down, he really feels that tech is a driving force in the economy."

With so much change in the air in Washington-a new White House administration, new congressional leadership-Gigi Sohn, president and co-founder of the public advocacy group Public Knowledge, said until all the deck chairs get rearranged it is "really difficult to make any predictions" about legislative outcomes.

In any event, Rockefeller and Waxman, in particular, will bring what one executive called a "completely different set of priorities and dynamics" to the tech debate. Which priorities and what dynamics remain to be seen.