New President's Views on Technology

It seems we have been in a holding pattern - everything waiting for this day. So with campaign commercials gone and election coverage over (yes, Saturday Night Live goes back to its regular scheduled programming), maybe we can all get back to our lives. But what does that mean? What happens now?

A good friend of mine often uses the phrase "What have you done for me lately?" Her definition: There comes a time to stop talking and start doing. Take action. Even McCain said in his concession speech last night, "We must work together to get our country moving again."

So while we are figuring out how to move forward, I thought it might be interesting to look at our new president's views on technology issues.

A recent article by Grant Gross featured in Network World gives a good overview of Obama's technology stances. According to the article, "while Obama has had relatively little legislative experience related to technology, he's a self-described text-messaging addict who released a lengthy Tech Policy paper last November."

Here are some other notes as it relates to his views on technology.

Telecommunications
Net neutrality: Obama has long supported the passage of Net neutrality laws or rules. "A key reason the Internet has been such a success is because it is the most open network in history," his tech paper says.

Rural broadband deployment: Obama calls for policies to encourage next-generation broadband deployment, including to rural areas and inner cities. He supports government programs to bring broadband to schools, libraries and hospitals, and called for public/private partnerships to help roll it out in areas without service.

Competition in the wireless spectrum: Obama has called for a review of existing uses of the wireless spectrum, and he wants government agencies to come up with "smarter, more efficient and more imaginative use" of the spectrum they control.

National Security
Government surveillance: Both candidates voted for a recent bill to revamp the U.S. government's surveillance programs and bring a controversial National Security Agency program under court oversight. However, Obama opposed the bill's language that would likely give telecom carriers immunity from lawsuits.

Privacy
Obama wants to restrict how databases containing personal information are used. He'd increase the Federal Trade Commission enforcement budget to fight spam, spyware, phishing and other cybercrime. Obama would also focus on ensuring that electronic health records are secure, his position paper says.

IT Jobs
Outsourcing: Obama wants to end tax breaks for companies that ship U.S. jobs overseas.

Math and science education: Both candidates have called for an increased focus on training U.S. students and workers for 21st-century jobs. Both have called for programs that increase the number of students studying math and science. Obama wants to improve U.S. schools' curricula and supply schools with computers and broadband.

H1-B visas: Obama questions the need for more H-1B visas, but he's also called for reform of immigration programs, including ways for immigrants to become permanent residents.

Innovation
R&D tax credit: Both candidates called for a permanent extension of a frequently expiring R&D tax credit for U.S. companies.

Renewable energy: Obama has made renewable energy a campaign centerpiece. He's called for a government investment of $150 billion over the next decade to encourage development of biofuels, hybrid cars and solar and wind energy. He would double federal science and research funding for clean-energy projects and create a $10-billion-a-year clean-tech venture capital fund.