What IT Wants From The Next White House

JOSHUA D. RAND Bio: Co-founder and CEO of New York, N.Y. - based Sapotek Inc., a U.S./Mexican developer of open-source Web applications and services such as free online desktops; attorney-at-law; former economic advisor to the New York City Comptroller. Endorsing: Declined to state The Skinny: Rand, as and open-source developer of products like Sapotek's Desktoptwo (English) and Computadora.de (Spanish) free online desktops, would like to see federal policy that mandates the inclusion of open-source vendors in government procurement bids, while also pushing for direct investment in technology start-ups.

WHAT HE WANTS FROM THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION:

I admittedly know more about the Democratic candidates, but I don't see any of the [three major candidates] as antithetical to technology. I can tell you this, there's one thing I would like to see and that is to adopt a procurement policy that at the very least requires that open-source vendors are at the table. If you look at countries in Northern Europe, they have that. In fact, all of Europe does, because it's EU policy. If you look at Latin America, Brazil and Argentina, all of these countries have this. The United States doesn't have any policy like this, and I think it's foolish not to.

I don't know which of the candidates is more amenable to adopting a policy like that. I would think Barack probably is, and because Barack is, Hillary probably is too. And then McCain wouldn't want to be perceived as a dinosaur.

Technology is an enabler. And the government, if it wants to work on behalf of the American citizen and consumer, should work towards supporting alternative technologies that are more cost-efficient and potentially grow jobs as well. I mean, you're talking about technology companies. And the model of the 80s and 90s and even until today has been that private equity and venture capital funding has supported technology for the most part. But look at Canada, look at Ottawa. If you start a technology company right now, move to Ottawa. They'll pay for everything, they'll pay your rent, they'll pay for your bandwidth, they'll do everything.

In America we don't have anything like that. It's ridiculous. The United States is funny. Look, our markets have been relatively liquid for underwriting technology and development, but that's all been private money. I think the United States government would do well by its citizens if it would support technology companies that are creating technologies that improve efficiencies.

Next: Julienne Givot