Inauguration 2.0: Obama’s Technology Agenda

One of the changes that took place on Tuesday of this week, during the inauguration of President Obama, was that the official Whitehouse website (Whitehouse.gov) was transformed. On the new website, the new President outlines his agenda for the next four years. There are quite a few changes to be aware of, but I would like to especially direct the attention of all of you WebWarriors to Obama’s Technology Agenda. Here’s an exerpt:

President Obama and Vice President Biden understand the immense transformative power of technology and innovation and how they can improve the lives of Americans. They will work to ensure the full and free exchange of information through an open Internet and use technology to create a more transparent and connected democracy. They will encourage the deployment of modern communications infrastructure to improve America’s competitiveness and employ technology to solve our nation’s most pressing problems — including improving clean energy, healthcare costs, and public safety.

Ensure the Full and Free Exchange of Ideas through an Open Internet and Diverse Media Outlets

• Protect the Openness of the Internet: Support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.
• Encourage Diversity in Media Ownership: Encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum.
• Protect Our Children While Preserving the First Amendment: Give parents the tools and information they need to control what their children see on television and the Internet in ways fully consistent with the First Amendment. Support tough penalties, increase enforcement resources and forensic tools for law enforcement, and encourage collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector to identify and prosecute people who try to exploit children online.
• Safeguard our Right to Privacy: Strengthen privacy protections for the digital age and harness the power of technology to hold government and business accountable for violations of personal privacy.

If that sends up all sort of red flags for you, you’ll want to check out the rest of the agenda – particularly in regard to the new administration’s commitment to science over “ideology,” as well as what amounts to nationalized broadband service.