Seattle takes over as most wired U.S. city in 2009

William Atkins
Sunday, 25 January 2009 18:53

Business IT - Networking

With the Obama Administration now running the country, the Forbes article comments that plans with the federal government could help to increase the 'wireness' of the country, along with its ability to statistically record the improvements.

Forbes states, “A Federal Communications Commission spokesman says the agency plans to collect ‘considerably more detailed’ information on broadband access in coming months. Mobile data usage is flourishing, which in turn is affecting the number of wi-fi hot spots that restaurants, cafés and retailers offer.”

It adds, “Obama's technology policies may have the biggest impact. In October, the Senate approved the Broadband Data Improvement Act, which calls for better federal and state data on the availability and quality of broadband service in the U.S.”

The BDIA, which was signed by former President Bush, was signed into law in 2008 to: “… improve the quality of federal and state data regarding the availability and quality of broadband services and to promote the deployment of affordable broadband services to all parts of the Nation.”

Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), stated, “It's a step in the right direction, but not as effective as what we need.”

The ITIF, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, would like to, according to the Forbes article, “… see tax credit provisions for broadband as well as grants, which Atkinson calls ‘cumbersome’ for companies.”

For additional information on the U.S. plan to help the country out of its economic mess, while strengthen its digital capacity, read the ITIF article “The Digital Road to Recovery: A Stimulus Plan to Create Jobs, Boost Productivity and Revitalize America.”

The article begins, “As Congress considers a substantial stimulus package to get the economy moving, investing in new economy digital infrastructures will provide significant opportunities not just for short-term stimulus and job creation, but also longer term economic and social benefits.”