The Cisco Worldwide Government Affairs Group (WWGA) is a small, dedicated team of professionals located around the world that seeks to influence public policies to increase and protect the use of technology. The most important worldwide policy issues currently being addressed by the WWGA team include: increasing broadband deployment, promoting wireless technology, supporting voice over IP (VoIP) services, improving Internet security, and advocating better education through technology. A detailed overview of WWGA views and initiatives may be found at our Government Affairs Website.
The three general areas in which the WWGA team seeks to influence policy are:
Investing in knowledge: We pursue public policies that prepare our workforce and citizens for success. Today, one of the limiting factors to growth for enterprises, educational institutions, and governments is the ability to locate adequately trained workers to fill the growing number of positions in the high-tech industry. To meet the future demand for trained engineers, programmers, and innovators around the world, Cisco actively supports initiatives that provide education, continuing professional development, and placement assistance programs to help ensure the availability of a productive, highly trained workforce, particularly in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Promoting innovation: We pursue public policies that help create the conditions for broad-based economic growth. It is imperative that the markets in which we operate across the world be free and open. Future global economic growth will be driven by the markets that are allowed to operate freely in the economy, including the elimination of regulatory policies that limit the use and expansion of IP technology.
Accelerating broadband: The availability of broadband connections has significantly increased productivity for both private enterprises and governmental organizations around the world. Further, the cost of bandwidth decreases as it becomes more available. All of the G7 nations, with the exception of the United States, now have a national broadband plan. These plans serve as guidelines for enhancing national infrastructure for healthcare, banking, and other public service systems. Advanced technologies—including wireless and VoIP—allow nations to build infrastructure that can help them make the economic transition into the 21st century.
Political Support in the United States
Cisco does not donate corporate money to political candidates or parties. Cisco has a political action committee (PAC) funded voluntarily by employees. All information on the Cisco PAC is readily available by accessing the Federal Election Commission Website.
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