AeANET : MW Monthly Newsletter-June 2008

SPSS Predictive Analytics Wins Yphise AWARD

CHICAGO, 05/13/08 �SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS), a leading worldwide provider of Predictive Analytics software and solutions, today announced it is the recipient of the Yphise AWARD for best Operational Predictive Analysis (OPA) solutions. The award honors SPSS Predictive Enterprise Services(TM) platform, SPSS Clementine(R) data-mining software and SPSS Dimensions(TM) survey software as the best-ranked products that manage real-time predictive analysis within business processes to support decision-making...read more.

AeA Midwest Council Featured Member

AeA International Environment Compliance Programs Provide Members with In-depth Overview of Global Environmental Regulations

On May 8, 9 and 13, AeA held its annual �International Environment Compliance Program: High Tech and Global Environmental Regulations 2008 Update� in Chicago, Boston and Silicon Valley respectively. Our main speakers included:

Steve Andrews from UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and
Chris Smith from UK RoHS Enforcement Authority (NWML).

Andrews and Smith provided a thorough policy and enforcement update of activities related to the:

European Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS);
Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive; and
Energy Using Products (EuP) Directive.

With growing concerns over Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH), Ken Rivlin and Felise Cooper from our long-term partner Allen & Overy, LLP provided a comprehensive overview of the directive and related requirements for importers, producers and downstream users.

Building on AeA�s leadership on China RoHS, Michaela Muranova from AeA provided a broad overview of ongoing enforcement activities of China RoHS Labeling and Information disclosure requirements, as well as an outline of our expectations in the area of catalogue development, certification process and related expected time frames. With material restriction regulations expanding to other countries, Michaela also talked about various regulations currently in effect such as Korea RoHS/WEEE and emerging ones in countries like Australia and Thailand.

Additionally, Holly Evans, President of Strategic Counsel LLC and AeA�s consultant, spoke to the attendees about energy efficiency and green procurement initiatives in the United States and abroad. Holly Evans, our local AeA staff, member company experts, and lobbyists also covered domestic state e-waste and chemicals policy legislation, which continues to expand rapidly throughout the states.

This year for the first time, AeA expanded its program to enable our member companies to share their views and activities in the area of Design for Environment and Green Initiatives to reflect increased public attention and focus on climate change and green technologies. For more information about the program please visit: www.aeanet.org/environment2008 or contact Michaela Muranova Chen, Director for International Environment and Trade Policy, at 202.682.4445.

Rob Mulligan (bio)
Senior Vice President International

Attendees at the Silicon Valley event at Sun Microsystems

Speakers from the Chicago event at Motorola

Chris Smith, UK RoHS Enforcement Authority, speaks at the Massachusetts event at Philips

For more information on the International Issues affecting your company, visit:

AeA and Intel Give Capitol Hill Briefing on the State of the High-Tech Industry

AeA, the nation�s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, and Intel Corporation, the world�s largest semiconductor manufacturer, briefed over 50 Congressional staff, industry executives, and reporters on the findings of AeA�s recently released Cyberstates 2008 report on May 9. The report details national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Co-sponsoring the briefing were Intel, Agilent Technologies, and Research in Motion, maker of the Blackberry.

"We are pleased to report to Congressional staff that the technology industry added jobs nationally and across nearly every state,� said Christopher Hansen, President and CEO, AeA. �But we also found that national tech growth slowed in 2007, making the overall story good but not great. Tech jobs make critical contributions to the U.S. economy in terms of innovation. They pay extremely well � the average tech industry wage is 87 percent higher than the average private sector wage. While these are the types of jobs every state wants to attract, the labor market remains tight, with unemployment rates below two percent across many tech occupations."

�The Cyberstates report shows definitively that while the U.S. high-tech industry continues to add jobs, this growth would be much stronger if policymakers took action to address American competitiveness issues,� said Doug Comer, Director Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Intel Corporation. �Congress needs to fund initiatives to enhance math and science education at the K-12 level and increase the R&D budgets of the major federal research agencies. These initiatives were authorized in the 2007 America Competes Act, but were never fully funded. Policymakers also need to increase the cap on H-1B visas, which allow U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign nationals graduating from U.S. universities. They need to renew and make permanent the R&D tax credit to encourage U.S. companies to spawn innovation on American shores. Lastly, they need to promote free trade agreements that open foreign markets to U.S. technology exports.�

Cyberstates 2008 is available for purchase at: www.aeanet.org/cyberstates.

Christopher Hansen, President & CEO, AeA presents the Cyberstates report

Matthew Kazmierczak, Vice President, Research and Industry Analysis, AeA

Doug Comer, Director Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Intel Corporation

John Palafoutas (bio)
Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy & Congressional Affairs

Participate in AeA's Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Survey

Help AeA in Lobbying the SEC and PCAOB on SOX 404 Relief by Taking the Online Survey Today!

If you have additional questions on this survey or would like to become involved in AeA's work on SOX 404 or other fiscal policy issues, please contact Marie Lee, AeA's Director and Counsel, Finance and Tax Policy, at 202.682.4448.

Attend AeA's State Government Affairs Meeting in DC

Join policy professionals and executives from around the U.S. at AeA's Biannual State Government Affairs (SGA) meeting at the association's David Packard Conference Center in Washington, DC, on June 17. The meeting will be hosted by Jim Wall, Microsoft and AeA SGA Chair, and Monica Mueller, Motorola and AeA SGA Vice-Chair. This members-only meeting will provide an analysis and review on the latest policy developments in state legislatures and setting AeA's priorities for:

E-commerce
Environment
Tax/Fiscal
Education/Workforce Development
Procurement
Emerging Technologies
And other State Specific Issues

Additionally, the meeting will include a discussion with Chris Hansen, President & CEO of AeA, regarding the recent expansion of AeA's State Government Affairs program. Members will be able to provide feedback and direction for where you would like the program to be going forward. And on the evening before the event -- on June 16 -- there will be a networking reception at 5:30 PM at Clyde's in Gallery Place.

Roxanne Gould (bio)
Senior Vice President, State Government Affairs

For more information on State Government Affairs (SGA) issues affecting your company, visit:

Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation to Deliver Keynote at
2008 AeA Technology for Government Dinner

Steve Ballmer, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation, will deliver the keynote speech at the annual AeA Technology for Government Dinner � the premier Washington, DC, networking event bringing hundreds of industry, congressional, and government leaders together at one venue - on Tuesday, June 3. In his keynote address before an audience of more than 700 attendees including high-ranking government officials and C-level executives from the nation�s leading high-tech companies, Mr. Ballmer will share his thoughts about how technology and software are transforming communities, societies, and individual lives. He will also talk about the fifth computing revolution, the trends that are shaping it, and the impact it will have on our lives, our government, and our businesses.

�This is a great opportunity for our federal and commercial colleagues to hear directly from Steve Ballmer,� said Greg Poersch, Acting COO, AeA. �Right now everyone is paying a great deal of attention to Microsoft. We want to understand where they are going and why. The federal government has been working closely with Microsoft for many years; this time together helps create many strategic alliances for innovation that foster better services for the public.�

�Microsoft Public Sector is honored to participate with our CEO, Steve Ballmer, in AeA�s 2008 Annual Technology for Government Dinner,� said Teresa Carlson, General Manager, US Civilian Gov & International Global Organizations at Microsoft. �Steve�s keynote address allows Microsoft and AeA to jointly address how information technology continues to innovate, rapidly enabling businesses and government leaders to solve the mission critical real time situations they face as they serve citizens of the United States and our overseas partners.�

This year, the dinner will be held on Tuesday, June 3, in the Independence Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. For more information about the annual AeA Technology for Government Dinner, please visit www.aeanet.org/t4g2008.

Watch Jonathan Schwartz's 2007
AeA Technology for Government Dinner Keynote