Obama advisor: Technology to open government, help economy

In opening remarks to Congress’s State of the Net conference, which I'm covering here in Washington, DC, Obama transition advisor Blair Levin (Click on image at right for a closer look) today said that the Internet will be a "huge part" of creating a Federal government that the public will find "open and responsive."

Levin cited as an example the web site for Obama's transition team. The site already offers a feature called Your Seat at the Table through which anyone can track the meetings the transition team are having with various groups and read the related documents. There's also a Citizen's Briefing Book which lets the average citizen submit their ideas for a briefing book to be presented to President-elect Obama for his review.

In the coming years, Levin, said, the public will also be able view details on the progress of the upcoming economic stimulus package.

Speaking of that plan, Levin declined to provide any quantitative information about what the Administration plan will propose. But he did say that new broadband Internet policy is going to be an essential part of the plan, and will be able to help the U.S. attack such problems as health care, immigration, energy, and economic growth. There will also be broadband initiatives beyond the formal economic stimulus plan, he added.

—Jeff Fox