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SIIA Statement on Department of Ed’s Brief on “Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Postsecondary Education: Building Capacity for the Road Ahead”

by Policy

The following statement can be attributed to Sara Kloek, Vice President, Education and Children’s Policy, the Software & Information Industry Association.

“We’re pleased to see the release of today’s brief from the U.S. Department of Education – “Navigating Artificial Intelligence in Postsecondary Education: Building Capacity for the Road Ahead,” which will serve as an important resource for technology companies building tools for postsecondary institutions. The brief provides insights into policies postsecondary institutions may develop and that companies can look to as they build out tools to meet the needs of their customers. We’re particularly pleased to see the recommendation that postsecondary institutions review, refine, and supplement program offerings. AI will continue to have an impact on the job market and the workforce will need to have skills to match.”

We look forward to sharing this important brief with our member companies and seeing how this can bolster the work in progress at postsecondary institutions across the United States.

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SIIA Applauds Executive Order on AI Infrastructure

by Policy

The following statement can be attributed to Paul Lekas, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, the Software & Information Industry Association.

We applaud the Biden administration for taking meaningful steps to accelerate the infrastructure needed for AI development and for recognizing AI innovation as imperative to national and economic security. As the Executive Order recognizes, the future will require new, innovative models for public-private partnership and collaboration. We look forward to working with the Trump administration to see this vision become a reality.

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EDSAFE AI Alliance Transition Letter: Advancing AI in Education

by Policy

The EDSAFE AI Alliance, alongside a coalition of education and technology organizations, has shared recommendations with the incoming administration on how the United States can lead in AI innovation while prioritizing the needs of students and educators. These suggestions emphasize the critical role of AI in transforming education, from improving teaching practices to preparing students for the AI-driven workforce of tomorrow. Key principles include advancing AI that is safe, accountable, fair, and transparent, ensuring student and educator needs remain central, and addressing potential risks associated with AI technologies.

Among the recommendations are steps to support AI adoption in education, enhance AI literacy for students and educators, and prepare the workforce for AI integration. The letter also underscores the importance of protecting student privacy, investing in digital access, and establishing infrastructure for safe and equitable AI use. A proposed White House Summit on the Responsible Use of AI in Schools aims to bring educators, policymakers, and industry leaders together to guide evidence-based AI deployment while addressing concerns like privacy and bias. By prioritizing these initiatives, the U.S. can secure its position as a global leader in technology innovation and education.

Full Letter Here
CanvaBridgeTower

BridgeTower Media Acquires Furniture Lighting & Décor, Continuing ‘Aggressive’ Growth Pattern

by Media

After a busy 2024, BridgeTower Media has started off the new year with another acquisition. The Greensboro, NC-based media company has acquired industry trade publication Furniture Lighting & Décor from Scranton Gillette Communications in a deal that teams the brand with BridgeTower’s popular Home Accents Today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to bring Furniture Lighting and Decor into our industry-leading group of brands covering the home furnishings sector,” said Hal Cohen, CEO of BridgeTower Media. “FLD will be combined with Home Accents Today to provide expanded coverage both digitally and in our newly reformatted print edition, benefitting both readers and advertisers alike.”

Cohen told SIIA Media Alert today that the company had been “in discussions with Scranton Gillette Communications for a few months. The deal closed in late 2024 but is being announced with the combination of the two brands today.”

Cohen added that everything will now be combined under Home Accents Today, with a tagline “featuring Furniture Lighting and Décor.” BridgeTower Media is also the parent company of Furniture Today, Designers Today, Home Textiles Today and Gifts & Decorative Accessories, in addition to many other titles.

In a welcome message to its audience, editor in chief Bill McLoughlin wrote that the new single platform “will bring more dynamic, timely and actionable content to the home furnishings industry in a new and improved format.”

Asked if this signals another acquisition-filled year for BridgeTower, Cohen told us: “We expect 2025 to be another year of both organic and inorganic growth, so we plan to continue to aggressively pursue acquisition opportunities.”

The deal comes on the heels of BridgeTower’s acquisitions last year of Virginia Business and ColoradoBiz, adding to its presence in many other states with brands that include: Long Island Business News, Idaho Business Review, DJC Oregon, Charleston (SC) Regional Business Journal, and NJ Biz among others. (See its full portfolio here.)

Cohen joined BridgeTower Media—which was acquired by Transom Capital Group in November 2020—in 2016 as COO, after 15 years with ALM Media. He became CEO in 2022.

 

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SIIA Joins Coalition Letter on Proposed AI Export Controls

by Policy

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) joins four leading technology associations—TechNet, CCIA, ITI, and SIA—in expressing significant concerns about proposed export controls on advanced AI chips and computing systems. In a letter to the Biden Administration, the coalition emphasizes the critical role these technologies play in both U.S. national security and global economic growth. The letter warns that the draft rule could undermine American innovation, alienate key allies, and inadvertently bolster adversaries by driving international partners toward alternative suppliers.

The letter also highlights enforceability challenges and the lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement in the rulemaking process, urging the administration to reconsider its approach. The coalition advocates for a collaborative framework that safeguards U.S. leadership in emerging technologies while achieving shared security and economic goals. Read the full letter below.

Full Letter Here