CommNexus San Diego
Policies and Legislation
The following document was approved by the Board of Directors which includes policy positions on general community issues.
2006 Policy Committee Guidelines
Bill Eigner - Chair, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch
Erick Bruvold, San Diego Regional EDC
Kevin Carroll, AeA
Peter Cowhey, Institute on Global Change & Cooperation (IGCC)
Dean of International Relations & Pacific Studies, UCSD
Stacy Cromidas, Gilbert & Cromidas
David Hytha, Silicon Wave
Laurie Itkin, Leap Wireless
Pablo Pareja, AT&T Wireless
Monique Rodriguez, QUALCOMM
Upon Board of Directors approval, the 2006 Policy Guidelines should function as the controlling policy document for CommNexus San Diego regarding legislation and governmental affairs, and should serve as an important tool for the Policy Committee in implementing CommNexus’ governmental affairs efforts. These guidelines represent proposed CommNexus positions on certain policies, against which CommNexus officers and staff and the Policy Committee can measure particular proposed governmental action and, where applicable, communicate CommNexus position quickly and accurately.
The Policy Committee and CommNexus Board of Directors will need to revise this agenda to its liking, approve it, and then review this agenda continuously while implementing it.
Consumer Issues
Consumer Contracts. Support reasonable legislation that permits consumers to waive statutory rights, so long as the waiver is explicit.
Economic Development
Loans. Support legislation that would enhance business development and the creation of jobs by improving the availability of loans for business development.
Government Regulation. Support legislation that would simplify or eliminate excessive governmental regulation of business, and eliminate duplication of federal, State, and local requirements.
Relocation. Support legislation that would offer financial incentives to businesses wanting to expand or relocate to the state.
Business Development and Growth. Support legislation that provides opportunities to encourage economic development in San Diego and business growth and expansion.
Pursue High Value Installations. Continue efforts to seek out and attract high value military and other operations, which enhance the region's intellectual and manufacturing character (e.g., SPAWAR).
Telecommunications. Support and promote research and development of advanced telecommunications to improve the productivity and competitiveness of California's telecommunications industry.
Teacher Technology Knowledge. Support programs that enhance and keep current teachers' technology knowledge.
Technology. Support the growth of technology resources and technology education in K-12 classrooms and create opportunities for students to meet the demands of high-technology careers.
Technology Research and Transfer. Support technology research programs at San Diego area institutions. Encourage effective technology transfer programs.
Charter Schools. Support legislation that limits the restrictive policies placed on charter schools such as High Tech High, while ensuring that all charter schools have the resources needed to be fiscally accountable and set reasonable standards for state audits.
Employee Relations
Work Rule Flexibility. Increase flexibility of work schedules and leave policies.
Energy
Regulatory Certainty. Seek regulatory certainty in the energy markets to the extent that energy markets continue to be regulated. California should reduce the number of energy oversight and regulatory bodies and streamline rules and procedures.
Customer Choice. Customers should have the right to reduce their risks by choosing their own financial instruments, energy providers, grid access alternatives and direct access.
Energy Infrastructure. The San Diego Region needs a robust energy structure to deliver power reliably. Access to a diverse supply should be encouraged to reduce area risk. Clean cogeneration should be encouraged along with cost-effective renewable energy sources.
Regional Energy Policy. San Diego, Northern Baja and Imperial County have common energy and air quality problems and goals. CommNexus San Diego encourages cooperation among key stakeholders to collaborate and work together as a region.
Conservation. CommNexus San Diego strongly encourages systematic, effective conservation measures.
Metering. Sub-metering should be used to encourage conservation, and real-time or time-of-use metering should be encouraged to reduce the peaks of power demand and more accurately reflect the cost of power.
Environment. CommNexus San Diego supports environmentally sound energy policies.
Health Care
Affordable and Accessible Health Care. Support efforts to make health care more affordable and accessible.
International Trade and Commerce
Border Crossing. Support the opening of all existing border crossing lanes and encourage the manning of all INS/Border Patrol booths. Work for increase in lanes, open new border crossings and fully implement systems to facilitate faster utilization of current border crossing infrastructure.
Border Infrastructure. Support legislation to improve the economic, environmental, and social conditions of the San Diego/Tijuana border region, including improvements in infrastructure.
Exports. Encourage exports of U.S. telecom products and services.
Fast Track Trade Negotiating Authority. Support free trade worldwide, expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable markets access for California products abroad and elimination of disincentives that impede international competitiveness of California business. Therefore, support renewal of fast track trade negotiating authority for the President of the United States.
Tax Proposals
Taxation: Deductions: Net Operating Losses. Support legislation that allows the entire amount of net operating losses to be carried forward to future years.
Corporations and Other Entities: Minimum Franchise Tax. Support legislation that would reduce or eliminate the minimum franchise tax. Reduce overall tax burdens on limited liability companies.
Conformity. Support appropriate legislation to conform California tax requirements with applicable federal requirements.
Tax Rates. Oppose increased taxes on individuals and businesses that tend to make California less attractive.
Internet Tax. Support state and federal moratoriums on Internet taxation.
Telecommunications
Broadband. Encourage maximum deployment of broadband. Educate policymakers about broadband and the beneficial impact of broadband on San Diego's telecom companies and economy.
Competition. Encourage competition. Maintain position of being technologically neutral, meaning that we should not unduly discriminate between wireless and fixed line broadband services.
Privacy. Ensure that any privacy legislation passed by Congress includes strong federal preemption of conflicting or supplemental state or local regulation.
Transportation
Border Infrastructure. Support additional funding for SR-905, through California Border Infrastructure and National Corridor Planning and Development programs, which are administered by the Department of Transportation.
Gasoline Sales Tax Revenues. Support legislation that would require revenues derived from the sales tax on gasoline to be utilized for state and local highway needs, rather than being deposited in the state General Fund.
Incentives to Use Mass Transit. Support legislation that would provide incentives for employees to use mass transit or would provide incentives for businesses to encourage employees to use mass transit.
Trolley Expansion Funding. Support secure budgeted funding for further expansion of the Mission Valley East Trolley Line, the Balboa/UTC Extension and the light rail from Escondido to Oceanside.
Transportation Funds. Support the identification and appropriation of additional funds for locally approved transportation improvement projects.
Traffic. Continue work on the 5/805 merge and encourage transportation solutions in Sorrento Valley.
Water
Supply. Support legislation that would provide San Diego a reliable, safe and affordable source of water.
Transfers. Support legislation that encourages and facilitates voluntary water transfers and streamlines the permitting and approval process for implementing transfers.
Infrastructure. Support legislation that provides funding for water infrastructure development and replacement projects.
Conservation. Support legislation that sets cost-efficiency standards for water-using devices and provides loans and grants to fund incentives for water-conserving devices or practices.
Greywater. Support legislation that encourages the use of greywater where it complies with local health department guidelines and regulations and is cost-effective.
Bi-national cooperation. Support legislation that encourages enhanced cooperation between entities in San Diego and Baja California in development of supply and infrastructure projects that will benefit the entire border region while protecting local interests.
Workers' Compensation/Unemployment Compensation
Workers' Benefits Issues. Oppose legislation that would call for benefit increases in temporary disability, permanent disability, permanent partial disability, death benefits or lifetime pensions, among others, without reforms or easing of administrative problems to offset employer cost increases.
Unemployment Compensation. Oppose benefit increases in the state unemployment insurance system unless substantial system reforms are provided to offset the tax increase.
