Glenn, welcome to silicon valley. Where only KIS can afford to live.;-)
>Mercury News
Technology Network, the lobbying arm of Silicon Valley's high-tech titans, on Friday announced its new voice, Rick White, a former two-term congressman from Washington. There was only one problem: White could not be heard.
A weather-delayed flight prevented the 47-year-old from participating in a teleconference to introduce him to reporters. After his public relations people from Fleishman Hillard cancelled the teleconference, he tried unsuccessfully to contact some reporters before disappearing, presumably on another flight.
To be sure, it's bound to get better from here on out.
In a press release, White, who at present is general counsel for Seattle-based start-up OneName, described his job this way: ``to help high-tech leaders communicate to our elected officials the importance of the technology industry and ways to make it grow.''
Meanwhile, members of the 3-year-old Palo Alto-based organization, which comprises more than 300 high-tech executives, couldn't talk long -- or loud -- enough about how White is the perfect person to be TechNet's new CEO.
``We have gotten a man who will give us more fire power in the halls of the Congress,'' said Jim Barksdale, the former Netscape Communications Corp. CEO who was co-chair of the TechNet selection committee with Bob Herbold, executive vice president of Microsoft Corp.
Bridging two worlds
White has been inside the Beltway and the tech way. ``He can effectively bridge the two worlds,'' said Kim Polese, a member of TechNet's executive council and founder and CEO of Marimba Inc. in Mountain View. ``He's a great combination of a lawmaker and technology leader.''
With a Republican-controlled Congress and George W. Bush set to take over the White House, the committee zeroed in on Republican candidates. The other finalist was believed to be former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham, R-Mich., before he was nominated earlier this week to head the Department of Energy. ``We've never said we are nonpartisan,'' Barksdale added. ``We are bipartisan. We will work well with Democrats and Republicans -- as long as they are supportive of our positions.''
White replaces former TechNet CEO Roberta Katz, who left in July to form a start-up. ``He has made a multi-year commitment to TechNet,'' said John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and member of the organization's executive council.
White rode into Congress as part of Newt Gingrich's ``Republican revolution.'' In two terms, from 1995 to 1998, he garnered a reputation for aggressively supporting tech bills. He co-sponsored legislation to protect the Net from federal regulation and another bill, with Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Atherton, to cap damages in shareholder lawsuits. He helped craft the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Internet tax moratorium legislation, an issue White is apt to revisit as a lobbyist. A co-founder of the Congressional Internet Caucus, he fought against the Communications Decency Act, the effort to block adult material on the Web from children that eventually was deemed unconstitutional.
His congressional district, after all, included Seattle suburbs such as Redmond, Wash., home of Microsoft Corp.
``He's a player,'' said Scott Cleland:, CEO of the Precursor Group, an investor research company in Washington, D.C. ``There's no question that Washington speaks Potomac and not high tech. You always need an advocate who knows the ropes.''
White's appointment is an indication of a maturing industry, say some tech executives. ``If this were five years ago, you couldn't have done this because the industry wasn't hip about the importance of policy,'' said Bill Archey, president and CEO of AEA, an association of 3,000 high-tech companies. At that time, he added, the oft-heard rallying cry in the valley was, ``Let's keep Congress in the dark. The less they know, the less they will be able to hurt us.''
Topping the list of issues White is expected to champion in 2001 is improving public education -- technology executives fret often that the American workforce won't be able to meet the demand for highly trained workers -- and pursuing free trade. Last year, TechNet backed legislation that expanded the H-1B visa program, which allows the tech industry to draw on more foreign-born workers, and a permanent normal trade relationship with China.
White was known for working with Democrats, but he'll still be viewed in a partisan cast by some. ``He was one of the Gingrich troops,'' said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose. ``The challenge for Rick is whether he can overcome that history and be successful in a bipartisan approach.''
Doerr, who has close ties to President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, isn't concerned. White, he said, was well-vetted. Some 300 candidates were considered for the $200,000-plus post.
``It's very hard to get someone experienced in policy who hasn't worked deeply with one of the two major parties,'' Doerr said. Both Republicans and Democrats gave him high marks, he added. ``He is super smart and well-respected by members of both political parties. He's exactly the right choice.'' |
