computerworld: Obama stimulus plan aims to boost digital economy - by Patrick Thibodeau

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In pledging to "renew our information superhighway," President-elect Barack Obama has offered a broad outline of an economic stimulus plan likely to lead to major increases in IT spending -- especially for broadband deployment and technology for schools and health care. Obama is mixing proposals that could offer a combination of gains, such as short-term spending on equipment and longer-term investments aimed at lasting productivity gains for the economy. The spending plan, outlined in barebones detail in Obama's weekly video address on Saturday, would mean new computers for schools, expanded broadband access -- particularly in rural areas -- and funding on technologies to reduce medical costs. That could mean increased spending on networking technologies to support services such as telemedicine. Robert Atkinson, who heads the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in Washington and is also on the Obama transition team, believes tech investments will stimulate the economy. While many traditional economists focus on state and local government projects such as building roads and bridges, "we need to expand our vision," he said.