CompTIA Says Small IT Businesses Play Integral Role in Stimulating U.S. Economy

Business Wire, April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Small IT businesses play an integral role in stimulating the U.S. economy, so says one such enterprise in testimony before the House Small Business Committee today.

"Companies like mine have done tremendous spade-work, wiring small American businesses with IT," said Marc Steiger, CEO of DLP Technologies in Cincinnati, and a CompTIA Valued-Added-Reseller (VAR) member, before the full House Small Business Committee. "Our customers recognize that IT levels the playing field, and we deliver those solutions that keep them productive and competitive. On the whole, VARs have fostered hundreds-of-billions of dollars of productivity gains to the American economy."

Small business drives American competitiveness and leadership. When they thrive, so does America. Over the past decade, however, that role has seen great challenge from the global uptake of IT, and global markets. Notes Steiger, "True, everyone has the same IT. But, not everyone has an American VAR innovating around it. Many of my colleagues started with 'Heath Kits' or tinkering with computer code in grade school. So, our know-how and ingenuity have deep roots. When customers come to us for their IT needs, VARs provide an essential 'x-factor,' squeezing every ounce of IT fire-power out of IT. We keep customers profitable and job-generating, and, spread over the entire economy, we help small businesses maintain their leadership here and, ever-more importantly, abroad."

Before the Committee, Steiger pointed out several areas where Congress could help small businesses stimulate the economy even further. Steiger suggested that Congress make permanent small business tax treatment that helps companies stay up-to-date with the latest IT tools. He also urged Congress to repeal the onerous 3% withholding tax on all government contracts with the private sector. Additionally, Steiger asked Congress to help make healthcare more affordable for small businesses. And finally, he called for the creation of a public/private sector IT security task force for small businesses so that they can better understand and protect against looming cyber threats.

According to Steiger, "When small businesses have more IT, don't face unreasonable taxation, can ably afford healthcare coverage for their employees, and know how best to protect their IT, the economy will experience a quantum leap. Why? These changes will help small businesses focus on what they do best - serve their customers instead of sapping limited resources caused by inadequate or inappropriate federal policies."

About DLP Tech

DLP Technologies, Inc., a value added reseller of information technology and services, has worked with small and medium sized businesses in the Cincinnati area for over 25 years. DLP Technologies, Inc. works with small businesses, becoming their IT support department, helping their computer users, managing their computer infrastructure, and helping the business become more efficient and effective by helping to plan their IT projects. DLP works with mid-market companies on a project basis in the areas of Microsoft Infrastructure, Storage, Virtualization, and Data Centers.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's $3 trillion information technology industry. CompTIA membership extends into more than 100 countries and includes companies at the forefront of innovation; the channel partners and solution providers they rely on to bring their products to market; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their technology investments. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.