Obama inaugural address calls for building "digital lines"

With the whole nation watching on Tuesday, President Obama took his historic inaugural address as an opportunity to renew his promise to lead America into the digital age. He noted the importance of strengthening our IT infrastructure in stimulating the economy both now and in the future:

"The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together."

Obama's remarks came on the heels of the release of the House plan to invest $6 billion in high speed Internet for underserved areas. These developments -- combined with Obama's earlier statements on the importance of high speed Internet investment -- are signs that our new government is taking this issue seriously as a way to stimulate the economy and close the digital divide.

As the economic stimulus bill moves through Congress, Speed Matters will keep you posted on the broadband provisions. With layoffs already announced in the telecom sector, we'll need to make sure that the broadband stimulus is designed to get out the door quickly with a focus on retaining and creating good jobs in the industry.

Obama Vows To Build ‘Digital Lines' (Multichannel News)

Proposed Economic Stimulus Plan Includes $6 Billion For Broadband (Speed Matters)

Obama cites broadband as key to economic stimulus (Speed Matters)