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ITAA Calls for Industry Leadership on Information Security Issues; Outlines Positive Congressional Steps in Congressional Testimony

Updated 12:11 PM ET March 28, 2000

WASHINGTON (BUSINESS WIRE) - Harris N. Miller, President of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) testified today before the Senate Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information to address barriers to Information Security roadblocks to investigation and information sharing.

Miller cautioned the Senate Subcommittee to resist a rush to legislate a solution to information sharing. "In many ways, solutions to information security challenges are no different than any other Internet-related policy issue. Regulation is not the answer. Industry leadership has been the hallmark of the ubiquitous success of our sector," Miller said.

Testifying that while companies are reluctant to share information on cyber attacks, the responsibility to share information on security breaches lies not just with the information technology industry, but with all sectors that use IT, and with the government too. Miller told the Subcommittee, "Let me be blunt. Information sharing cannot be a one-way street."

ITAA advised the Subcommittee on a number of targeted proposals the association believes would benefit from additional Congressional support, including:

* Exemptions from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requirements for sensitive industry information sharing;

* Reauthorization of National Telecommunications and Information Administration lead agency funding of $3.5million.

* Funding in the areas of workforce development and research; Congressional support for ITAA's collaborative partnership with the Department of Justice, the "Cybercitizen Partnership"; and

* Examine Information Security benefits of the Y2K International Cooperation Center (ICC) before OMB dismantles it.

ITAA is the lead industry trade group on the Information Security issue. For more information visit http://www.itaa.org/infosec .

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) provides global public policy, business networking, and national leadership to promote the continued rapid growth of the IT industry. ITAA consists of 400 direct and 26,000 affiliate corporate members throughout the U.S., and a global network of 41 countries' IT associations. The Association plays the leading role in issues of IT industry concern including taxes and finance policy, intellectual property, telecommunications competition, workforce and education, encryption, critical infrastructure protection, online privacy and consumer protection, securities litigation reform, government IT procurement, and human resources policy. ITAA members range from the smallest IT start ups to industry leaders in the Internet, software, IT services, ASP, digital content, systems integration, telecommunications, and enterprise solution fields. For more information visit http://www.itaa.org .

Contact: ITAA Bob Cohen, 703/284-5301 Tinabeth Burton, 703/284-5305

-- (News@of.note), April 03, 2000