President OBAMA's Commitment to Broadband technology & Jobs for a high tech future
January 28th, 2014, President Barak Obama used the State of the Union platform to announce his commitment to broadband technology that will connect 15,000 schools to high-speed services. His announcement was no surprise to many of us that have been watching the trends over the last 7 years. He also shared his collaborative plan with the FCC, Sprint, Microsoft and Verizon. To interpret this message plainly, those of us in the business are bracing for a technology explosion using telecommunications to ignite a job push and more training in a high growth market.
Several years ago during the Presidential campaign, both candidates, Senator Obama and John McCain mentioned "broadband" as the new highway of technical growth. Back then, the focus was connecting businesses within the medical field. The result was the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) that handled over $7.2 billion for broadband projects around the U.S. In other words, the trickle down effect netted new training initiatives, new technology breakthroughs and ultimately created new jobs.
Listening to the new initiative during the recent State of the Union, it sounds like there is going to be a larger push toward broadband solutions. After the speech, the White House provided some signs of how soon this new initiative may begin. A fact sheet was released showing that the President is going to announce "new philanthropic partnerships" that are focusing on wired and wireless broadband technology deployments around the country. The upcoming press release will also showcase the President's ConnectEd program designed to connect students to next generation technology.
The White House isn't the only major player betting on broadband technology. The FCC has been developing resources and avenues for advanced telecommunication programs in schools, libraries and anchor institutions since August of 2013. Former technology advisor, Tom Wheeler, who now serves as the Chairman of the FCC, is standing firm with the President on the new age of digital education using new broadband capabilities.
As our country becomes stronger in technology, so will our ability to be competitive in manufacturing the tools and equipment that will drive the future technology. The President believes in "innovation" and "innovative opportunities" for businesses to receive grants and assistance to develop new global technology that will put America at the front of the line in tech development.
The evolution of smartphones, and some reforms to patent legislation will lead to a mass infusion of new products, businesses and new technology that can create jobs in America. Let's face it, we finally have a technically savvy President during one of the biggest technology booms since the internet. The payout will be jobs.
All of these 21st century demands for technical education are just a drop in the bucket to what is to come. Telecommunications is a multi-billion dollar industry that has been ready for a new era of high tech developments and Presidential support is just the push we need to move back in to the tech boom of the 90's. Look for mind blowing smart technology, unimaginable speeds and jobs being created for installation, support and maintenance of this complex system.