Tech Czar Might Rule Policy Under Obama

[babylonsister]

This has the potential to be fantastic news.

Tech Czar Might Rule Policy Under Obama

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008


An administration run by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., would likely create a national technology czar with broad authority to develop policy, elevating high-tech issues to the cabinet level in a major recalibration of the government's approach to regulating the communications sector.

The move would have substantial implications for the FCC, an independent agency that could be answerable to a new layer of bureaucracy or bolstered by it, depending on political circumstances.

The plan is being floated by the Democratic presidential nominee's top tech-minded advisers and supporters, including FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, widely viewed as a contender to run the agency if Obama is elected.

"There's a need for a single source at a White House level to coordinate technology policy across different agencies," Adelstein told CongressDaily late last month after a speech in Denver at the Democratic National Convention.

"They're extremely serious about it," he said of the Obama team, describing the proposal as a "fundamental tenet" of the Democratic nominee's tech agenda.

more...

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20080910_6421.php

[babylonsister]

1. Wow, this IS really good news!

:hi:

[FrenchieCat]

2. We are in need of a bit of Tech innovation

as we are now in the 21st century!

Yeah for fresh ideas......something that only Obama can bring, not McCain.

[babylonsister]

3. Getting rid of Kevin Martin would be sweeet!

Criticisms

snip

Low-power broadcasting has also been a source of contention, as the FCC has set the power limits very low, while allegedly making it nearly impossible for anyone except large corporations or large nonprofit organizations to obtain a license. Although Stephen Dunifer won a case versus the FCC, few others have successfully argued against the Commission.

Another critique is that the Commission has historically been dominated by lawyers, often from the telecommunications industry, due to the FCC's direct effects on commerce and public policy. This is in stark contrast to other technically-focused government agencies, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is often populated by engineers and physicists.

The FCC is also often criticized by amateur Radio operators for rule changes affecting the Amateur Radio Service, or for its perceived lack of enforcement of violations within the service and in general.

lots of info here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission

[FrenchieCat]

4. I agree!

[JI7]

5. good, we need someone who can actually understand how things work today

[BlooInBloo]

6. As long as they give me net neutrality, and outlaw internet caps, I'm down.