Tech Groups Cheer Stimulus Proposal
The House Appropriations Committee Thursday unveiled an $825 billion economic stimulus package that includes $550 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax cuts to individuals and businesses over two years. The proposal would provide $20 billion for health IT; $6 billion for broadband; $32 billion for smart energy grid investments; and $15 billion for new K-12 school, classroom and laboratory renovation and technology. High-tech and telecom stakeholders cheered the news.
Information Technology Industry Council President Dean Garfield said the package "uses technology to put Americans back to work, creating jobs and new spending at a time when the country needs it most." New investments in electronic medical records, increased spending on science and technology in our nation's classrooms, new and faster reach for broadband and energy efficiency are "sound and sensible ways to jumpstart the economy," he said. He urged the House and Senate to move quickly to pass the legislation.
Stimulus investments in broadband are a valuable first step toward a comprehensive national broadband effort, the Internet Innovation Alliance said. President-elect Barack Obama has shown "tremendous foresight" in recognizing the need for increased deployment and his belief that America should lead the world in broadband penetration, the group said. "Investing in broadband expansion is good for our economy and key to our future competitiveness."
Watchdog group Free Press called on Congress to attach public service conditions and accountability to the broadband stimulus funds. In letters sent to House Appropriations Chair David Obey and Senate Appropriations Chair Daniel Inouye, the organization voiced support for broadband stimulus and urged legislators to target funding toward future-proof networks that are fast, open and affordable. "While $6 billion is not as much as we had hoped for, it is a substantial investment that represents an important public commitment to broadband," Fress Press policy director Ben Scott said.
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