By: Tom Hopcroft, CEO of MassTLC
September 15, 2015
Dear Chairman Eldridge,
Chairman Michlewitz and members of the Committee:
Chairman Michlewitz and members of the Committee:
On behalf of the
Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC), the state’s largest
non-profit technology industry association, I am writing to ask for your
support of a sensible regulatory framework that will help support
transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft. With several bills
pending before your committee, we hope you will support regulations that embrace
innovation, like those offered in H.931 An Act Relative to Transportation
Network Company Services. We are concerned that regulatory frameworks like those
offered in H.3702 An Act Relative to Passenger Safety, threaten to stifle
innovation, opportunity and competition in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC), the state’s largest
non-profit technology industry association, I am writing to ask for your
support of a sensible regulatory framework that will help support
transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft. With several bills
pending before your committee, we hope you will support regulations that embrace
innovation, like those offered in H.931 An Act Relative to Transportation
Network Company Services. We are concerned that regulatory frameworks like those
offered in H.3702 An Act Relative to Passenger Safety, threaten to stifle
innovation, opportunity and competition in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
With 500+ member
companies, MassTLC is the region’s leading technology association and premier
network for tech executives, entrepreneurs, investors and policy leaders. Our
mission is to accelerate innovation and growth in the Commonwealth. We’ve set a
goal to create 100,000 new tech sector jobs in Massachusetts by the year 2020,
and we’ve made substantial progress toward that benchmark.
companies, MassTLC is the region’s leading technology association and premier
network for tech executives, entrepreneurs, investors and policy leaders. Our
mission is to accelerate innovation and growth in the Commonwealth. We’ve set a
goal to create 100,000 new tech sector jobs in Massachusetts by the year 2020,
and we’ve made substantial progress toward that benchmark.
The tech sector, which employs more
than 214,000 people and underpins nearly a quarter of the state’s payroll, has
a lot to offer Massachusetts. As our
recent State of Technology report illustrates,
Massachusetts has the highest concentration of tech sector jobs nationwide. Tech
is an important and growing sector that is increasingly driving growth and
opportunity across every industry in the Commonwealth.
than 214,000 people and underpins nearly a quarter of the state’s payroll, has
a lot to offer Massachusetts. As our
recent State of Technology report illustrates,
Massachusetts has the highest concentration of tech sector jobs nationwide. Tech
is an important and growing sector that is increasingly driving growth and
opportunity across every industry in the Commonwealth.
Innovation Economy
Fueled by one of the world’s greatest concentrations of
research and academic institutions, Massachusetts has been at the forefront of
innovation for over 300 years – from the founding of the United States to
successive waves of innovation and leadership — in agriculture, maritime
trade, industrial mechanism, and information technology. This latest era has
witnessed technology innovation transforming our world with the birth of the
telephone, the Internet, the mutual fund, computational biology, genomics,
telemedicine, online education, and more.
research and academic institutions, Massachusetts has been at the forefront of
innovation for over 300 years – from the founding of the United States to
successive waves of innovation and leadership — in agriculture, maritime
trade, industrial mechanism, and information technology. This latest era has
witnessed technology innovation transforming our world with the birth of the
telephone, the Internet, the mutual fund, computational biology, genomics,
telemedicine, online education, and more.
Our political leaders work hard to leverage our regional
strength – brainpower, innovation and our knowledge economy. We are a leading
technology and innovation state, and with this comes both economic power and an
opportunity to use technology innovation to create new, flexible job
opportunities, particularly for women and people in lower income neighborhoods.
Ridesharing represents just one more in a long line of innovative business
models that is being embraced by our forward-looking populace. And, beyond the
improvements in convenience, safety and sustainability, these innovative
services contribute to the brand of our innovation economy which is a powerful
magnet for attracting and retaining talent, investments and companies to the
region.
strength – brainpower, innovation and our knowledge economy. We are a leading
technology and innovation state, and with this comes both economic power and an
opportunity to use technology innovation to create new, flexible job
opportunities, particularly for women and people in lower income neighborhoods.
Ridesharing represents just one more in a long line of innovative business
models that is being embraced by our forward-looking populace. And, beyond the
improvements in convenience, safety and sustainability, these innovative
services contribute to the brand of our innovation economy which is a powerful
magnet for attracting and retaining talent, investments and companies to the
region.
What’s Good for Consumers is Good for Drivers
A wide variety of transportation options provide both
visitors and residents of our Commonwealth with choices and flexibility,
supporting the Massachusetts innovation brand and providing service and economic
opportunity in underserved neighborhoods. Studies show that the availability of
transportation is the most significant factor in lifting communities out of
poverty. The addition of ridesharing has decreased wait times, increased safety
and accountability, and provided flexible work options for people across the
region.
visitors and residents of our Commonwealth with choices and flexibility,
supporting the Massachusetts innovation brand and providing service and economic
opportunity in underserved neighborhoods. Studies show that the availability of
transportation is the most significant factor in lifting communities out of
poverty. The addition of ridesharing has decreased wait times, increased safety
and accountability, and provided flexible work options for people across the
region.
Ridesharing is also good for the vast majority of taxi
drivers. With the tremendous demand for drivers and transferability of skills,
the rise of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft has created greater economic
opportunities for drivers. And the transportation network company (TNC) technology
platforms mean that drivers set their own schedules as they wish rather than
working fixed shifts. This flexibility plus the added security, lack of cash on
hand, and accountability are reflected in the relatively high number of women
who choose to be drivers in this new paradigm. These factors also encourage
drivers to come online in previously underserved neighborhoods.
drivers. With the tremendous demand for drivers and transferability of skills,
the rise of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft has created greater economic
opportunities for drivers. And the transportation network company (TNC) technology
platforms mean that drivers set their own schedules as they wish rather than
working fixed shifts. This flexibility plus the added security, lack of cash on
hand, and accountability are reflected in the relatively high number of women
who choose to be drivers in this new paradigm. These factors also encourage
drivers to come online in previously underserved neighborhoods.
The main opposition to ridesharing comes from owners of
highly coveted taxi medallions who must now cope with a shifting consumer
market. The automobile replaced the horse drawn carriage. Personal computers
replaced mainframes, only to be replaced by tablets. The Internet and mobile
technologies have forever changed communications. Instead of stifling
innovation in favor of old models, policy makers have instead shaped rules that
focused on the value to consumers.
highly coveted taxi medallions who must now cope with a shifting consumer
market. The automobile replaced the horse drawn carriage. Personal computers
replaced mainframes, only to be replaced by tablets. The Internet and mobile
technologies have forever changed communications. Instead of stifling
innovation in favor of old models, policy makers have instead shaped rules that
focused on the value to consumers.
The ridesharing model tips the balance in favor of
customer-centric drivers and service, and disrupts the entrenched regulatory
scheme built around a scarcity of medallions rather than service or safety of
consumers. As a leading technology innovation state, we should support
innovative business models as important to our brand and to the thousands of
drivers who have taken advantage of the high quality, flexible jobs that have
been created.
customer-centric drivers and service, and disrupts the entrenched regulatory
scheme built around a scarcity of medallions rather than service or safety of
consumers. As a leading technology innovation state, we should support
innovative business models as important to our brand and to the thousands of
drivers who have taken advantage of the high quality, flexible jobs that have
been created.
A Word of Caution
In seeking to protect traditional business models, some proposals
could, not only end ridesharing in Massachusetts as we know it – resulting in
the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, but threaten the very existence of our
innovation economy. Lawmakers have an opportunity to pass regulations that
support the technologies and innovation that have changed the way Massachusetts
moves.
could, not only end ridesharing in Massachusetts as we know it – resulting in
the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, but threaten the very existence of our
innovation economy. Lawmakers have an opportunity to pass regulations that
support the technologies and innovation that have changed the way Massachusetts
moves.
· Consider this:
As a leader in mobile software and hardware, Massachusetts’ thriving mobile
community has produced game-changing innovations from telecom to photo sharing,
traditional retail to health and fitness, online education, travel, home
automation, and more. By all accounts, mobile is where technology is going and
our leadership in this area has produced thousands of jobs. Yet one of the
bills under consideration would require tens of thousands of TNC drivers to
bring their smartphones in for review and approval by state regulators as if
they were taxi meters. Requiring state approval for users of mobile apps is a
dangerous precedent that threatens to drive the mobile development community
out of Massachusetts, putting all our industries that utilize mobile
applications – from heath care to financial services, and retail to education –
at a significant disadvantage. Sensible regulations would ensure these new
technologies that have introduced unprecedented accountability can continue to
thrive and support the demands of Massachusetts residents and visitors.
As a leader in mobile software and hardware, Massachusetts’ thriving mobile
community has produced game-changing innovations from telecom to photo sharing,
traditional retail to health and fitness, online education, travel, home
automation, and more. By all accounts, mobile is where technology is going and
our leadership in this area has produced thousands of jobs. Yet one of the
bills under consideration would require tens of thousands of TNC drivers to
bring their smartphones in for review and approval by state regulators as if
they were taxi meters. Requiring state approval for users of mobile apps is a
dangerous precedent that threatens to drive the mobile development community
out of Massachusetts, putting all our industries that utilize mobile
applications – from heath care to financial services, and retail to education –
at a significant disadvantage. Sensible regulations would ensure these new
technologies that have introduced unprecedented accountability can continue to
thrive and support the demands of Massachusetts residents and visitors.
· Consider this:
One of the great things about technology is its ability to level the playing
field and help make smarter use of capital investments. Another provision under
consideration would prohibit the use of technology to manage vehicles that are
more than five years old. Putting safety aside as already addressed by our
state inspection system, restrictions on the age of assets managed by TNC
technology makes no sense. Should building automation technology only be
permitted on new buildings? Should we not allow the public to fly on older
airplanes, drive over bridges, or ride bicycles that are more than a few years
old? The effect with ridesharing would simply be to exclude the drivers who are
least able to afford a new car every five years from essential economic opportunities
and decrease the availability of transportation in the underserved
neighborhoods that need it most. Legislators have an opportunity to support
regulations that would create access to more affordable transportation options.
One of the great things about technology is its ability to level the playing
field and help make smarter use of capital investments. Another provision under
consideration would prohibit the use of technology to manage vehicles that are
more than five years old. Putting safety aside as already addressed by our
state inspection system, restrictions on the age of assets managed by TNC
technology makes no sense. Should building automation technology only be
permitted on new buildings? Should we not allow the public to fly on older
airplanes, drive over bridges, or ride bicycles that are more than a few years
old? The effect with ridesharing would simply be to exclude the drivers who are
least able to afford a new car every five years from essential economic opportunities
and decrease the availability of transportation in the underserved
neighborhoods that need it most. Legislators have an opportunity to support
regulations that would create access to more affordable transportation options.
· Consider this:
Dynamic pricing is a growing trend that has been around for some time. We see
algorithmic pricing and business intelligence used in travel, retail, sporting,
financial markets, etc. TNCs have found a way to use this pricing to
incentivize drivers and meet consumer demand at peak times and in underserved
communities, resulting in better service for consumers. Much like a plumber who
charges more for a late night visit, the dynamic pricing is a trend that is an
accepted practice in many business models and has driven a responsive customer
centric service level that would be hard to let go. Prohibiting dynamic pricing
could have far reaching implications for our economy. Lawmakers should consider
a framework that would support the innovative technologies that allow companies
to help meet the growing demands.
Dynamic pricing is a growing trend that has been around for some time. We see
algorithmic pricing and business intelligence used in travel, retail, sporting,
financial markets, etc. TNCs have found a way to use this pricing to
incentivize drivers and meet consumer demand at peak times and in underserved
communities, resulting in better service for consumers. Much like a plumber who
charges more for a late night visit, the dynamic pricing is a trend that is an
accepted practice in many business models and has driven a responsive customer
centric service level that would be hard to let go. Prohibiting dynamic pricing
could have far reaching implications for our economy. Lawmakers should consider
a framework that would support the innovative technologies that allow companies
to help meet the growing demands.
Moving Forward
Fair policies around ridesharing and other disruptive
technologies can become one of the first building blocks of a true Innovation
Agenda for our state. I ask the Committee to be cautious and thoughtful as it
considers reasonable approaches to regulating new and innovative business
models like those offered by TNCs. Current legislation offered in H.931 An Act
Relative to Transportation Network Company Services would support innovation
and technologies that change the way our cities, towns and communities move. The
tech sector is eager to continue to help state and local lawmakers leverage
technology to deliver vital services, and to create the talent and regulatory
framework that will let innovation thrive in Massachusetts.
technologies can become one of the first building blocks of a true Innovation
Agenda for our state. I ask the Committee to be cautious and thoughtful as it
considers reasonable approaches to regulating new and innovative business
models like those offered by TNCs. Current legislation offered in H.931 An Act
Relative to Transportation Network Company Services would support innovation
and technologies that change the way our cities, towns and communities move. The
tech sector is eager to continue to help state and local lawmakers leverage
technology to deliver vital services, and to create the talent and regulatory
framework that will let innovation thrive in Massachusetts.
