Roll Call: Tech Firms Target Lawmakers with New Devices

On Wednesday evening, Capitol Hill got its own version of Las Vegas’ annual Consumer Electronics Show, with tech industry leaders on hand not to lobby, they insist, but simply to show off their wares.

“No one is there to lobby for anything,” said Cat Matsuda, director of development for the Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus, which organized the show. “They’re there to show their technologies and to talk about the potential impact of the technology on the forecast for the upcoming year.”

Matsuda said the purpose of the exhibition is to give companies, nonprofits and government agencies the chance to educate Members and staff.

“The overall goal of the advisory committee is to provide education for Members of Congress and government staff regarding Internet and high-tech policy,” she said.

Wednesday night’s Kickoff Reception and Technology Exhibition in the Hart Senate Office Building marked the 15th year the event has happened. The preceding annual State of the Net Conference — which brings leaders in the technology world together with staffers and policymakers to discuss industry issues — took place a week earlier.

For some of the 25 attendees — including the Federal Trade Commission, voter information firm Democracy Live, and social media platforms Facebook and YouTube — their presence on the Hill seems fitting.

Read more about what we saw at the Technology Exhibition >