| By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio - Nov 7th, 2008 at 8:57 am EST |
| Also listed in: Web 2.0 and Our Democracy |
The overall composition of Obama's transition team indicates he is serious about implementing new uses of technology in the executive branch and directing more cohesive policy making.
By naming some technology executives to his transition team--especially former IAC executive Julius Genachowski--President-elect Barack Obama is signaling that he's likely to follow through with his proposal to appoint a chief technology officer to the White House.
The person in this new position--and possibly a new White House technology office staff--could be given the directive to create new levels of transparency and access to government agencies, or to guide policies that spur innovation and growth. Technology experts within the Beltway warn, however, that a CTO would have to avoid potential pitfalls such as creating new spending for ineffectual projects, running into conflict with other agencies, or simply becoming nothing more than a symbolic office.
Still, creating the position would generally be seen as a positive step.
"The fact that this is difficult is, in some ways, an example of why we might need a CTO," said Alan Davidson, head of Google's Washington office. "There is no one place for unified technology leadership in our executive branch right now."
Barack Obama's 12 point blueprint for technology:
- Broadband access for all of America.
- Raise broadband speeds and standards
- Connect schools, hospitals and libraries.
- Encourage technology literacy.
- Educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
- Electronic medical records that will reduce error, improve healthcare and lower costs.
- Participation in government reforms:
Ask questions in real time;
Offer suggestions that are reviewed before decisions are made; and
Comment on legislation before it is signed. - Double basic research funding.
- Make research and development tax credit permanent.
- Enforce anti-trust laws.
- Online accesss to government data.
- Enable tracking of federal contracts, earmarks and lobbying contracts.
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