IP Democracy: Obama Would Create Nation's First CTO

Venture Beat's Matt Marshall got the first look at a new technology plan that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans to unveil at Google's headquarters tomorrow. The most intriguing part of the 9-page plan is that Obama would create the nation's first CTO, who would be charged with ensuring that the government and all its agencies have the right "infrastructure, policies and services for the 21st century." (Ed. note: this CTO should start with a good, hard look at the FCC.)

The CTO will also be responsible for ensuring that the government maintain a new level of openness, another key part of Obama's plan. Because "The Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, closed administrations in history," Obama plans to shed light on the government's operations through the use of technology. Specifically, he hopes to make more government data available online in a universally accepted format, involve citizens in online government policy feedback and require executive branch departments and rulemaking agencies to conduct business in public and via online video feeds, among other initiatives.

Of course Obama is in favor open access in the wireless spectrum and wants to implement net neutrality regulations, although for some reason the campaign asked Larry Lessign to get in touch with Matt to stress that the Obama net neutrality plan is "the most nicely balanced policy among the democrats." Meaning that it seeks to not be too burdensome from a regulatorily perspective, I think.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on November 14, 2007 12:43 PM to IP Democracy