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EVENTS: LAwNMoweRAugust 6,1997, the Honorable Richard J. Riordan, mayor of the city of Los Angeles, kicked off the New Media Roundtable, which featured "Chit Chat, Virtual Worlds, Talk Media." The event was held at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, and included a virtual chat with the region's leaders in new media, a technology showcase and networking reception. Sponsors included Paramound Digital Entertainment, LARTA and the Goldstrike Partnership. For more infomation, or to find out about the next event, contact the folks at LAwNMoweR by calling (310) 260-0000, or on the Internet visit www.techconf.com.
INFORMATION: 6X:The guide to the Tech Coast of Southern California for 1997 is now available. The guide covers the vast technological resources available in the region. Sponsors of the guide include the Orange Country Business council, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, Imperial Empire Econmic Parntership, Imperial Bank and NASDAQ. To order a copy, contact the LAEDC at (213) 622-4300. Institute Launches Web page & 1997 Economic Fact Book: In its ongoing effort to provide reliable and up-to-date resources on issues pertaining to the health and well-being of the Calforina economy, the California Institute and its Economic Advisory Council has published the Califonia Institue Economic Fact Book, Spring 1997 edition, and has launched a new web page, www.calinst.org. The Economic Fact Book is a 24-page desk reference with information about California's economy including job growth, housing prices, average wages, employment, and balance of payment. To recieve a free copy of the Ecomic Fact Book by mail, or for further information about the Institute's web page, call (202) 546-3700.
COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT JPLPathfinder assists the region's commercial market place by developing technologies for robtics, artifical intelligence and software which can be used for a variety of commerical applications. To learn more about JPL, Pathfinder or technologies used in space exploration, visit www.jpl.nasa.gov California Companies Continue To Lead Defense Procurement Race: A Pentagon study of DOD contracting released recently indicates that companies with a major California presence again led the competition for Pentagon procurement dollars in 1996. Lockheed Martin remained the largest DOD prime in FY 1996, winning just shy of $12 billion in contract awards. A close second was McDonnel Douglas with nearly $10 billion. Four companies were on either side of the $3 billion mark for 1996: General Motor's hughes Aircraft unit, Raytheon, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman. Companies with a major California persence comprised nearly half of the top 25 companies, which account for the large majority of the $70 billion spent on defense procurement in 1996. AEA Releases California Technology Employment Figures: The American Electronics Association has issued data showing that in 1996, high-tech emplyment in California topped 724,000 the highest level of the decade. According to the AEA statistics, job growth occured in every major section within California's high-tech industry in 1996. The most pronounced growth occurred in the high-tech manufacturing sector where 28,400 jobs were added between 1995 and1996. Within the manufacturing quarter during this peroid, the largest gains were posted by the semiconductor industry (5,000+) and the office equipment industry (4,000+). In 1996, the software and computer services sector also posted dramatic job growth, adding more than 26,000 new positions.
LEGISLATION Cox Bill Would Prohibit Taxation of Internet Commerce: The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing recently on H.R. 1054, a bill introduced by Rep. Chris Cox (Newport Beach) that would place a moratorium on Internet taxes. The committee also addressed the Senate companion bill, S. 442, introduced by Rep. Ron Wyden (Ore.). Commerce conducted over the Internet, such as sales of software, online newspapers and database services generated $500 million in total receipts in 1995 and $1.1 billion in 1996. According to commerce Department, within Fiver years, revenues generated by the Internet and related purchases could total at least $70 billion. These numbers have led some state and local governments to begin imposing new Interent taxes, and makes the Net vulnerable to multiple taxation from thousands of potential taxing authoities. Re. Cox's bill will prohibit state and local governemnts from imposing taxes on Internet access and online service, and requires the Administration to study international taxation of Interent commerce and make recommendations to Congress. Californias Propose Eshoo-Barton FDA Medical Device Reform Bill:On May 22, Reps. Joe Barton (Texas) and Anna Eshoo (Atherton) introduced a bipartisan bill to reform the Food & Drug Administration's handling of medical device matters. The bill, the Medical Device REgulatory Modernization Act (H.R. 1710), would clarify the FDA'a mission to encourage innovation and availability of devices, update procedures, broaden use of performance standards and sanction independent review. For further information, contact Rep. Eshoo's office at (202) 225-8104 or the California Helath Care Institute at (619) 551-6677
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