Obama promises big high speed Internet push

Presidential candidate Barack Obama continues to press for a national high speed Internet policy.

In a speech earlier this month on technology and the economy in Michigan, Obama pledged to "double federal funding for basic research and make the R&D tax credit permanent. We can ensure that the discoveries of the 21st century happen in America." Importantly, he reiterated his outspoken support for universal high speed Internet access:

"It is unacceptable that here, in the country that invented the Internet, we fell to 15th in the world in broadband deployment. When kids in downtown Flint or rural Iowa can't afford or access high speed Internet, that sets back America's ability to compete."

Obama was audacious in his vision for a digitally connected U.S.

"As president, I will set a simple goal: every American should have the highest speed broadband access -- no matter where you live, or how much money you have. We'll connect schools, libraries and hospitals."

In conferences and policy papers, the Obama campaign has previously stressed high speed Internet, arguing that technological access helps provide the skills necessary to compete in a global economy. But by taking the argument directly to voters in Michigan, the state with the highest levels of unemployment, he sought to tie the need for high speed Internet to economic prosperity for all.

Obama said his perspective was focused on the long-term. Though there would be a financial cost to implementing his policies, Obama conceded, he stressed that these important infrastructure investments would pay major dividends for the economy as a whole.

Obama Pledges Universal Broadband, Doubling R&D Budget (Great Lakes IT Report)

It doesn't get much more high profile than this (Speed Matters)

Obama and Clinton agree: Speed Matters: Affordable high speed Internet for America (Speed Matters)

Deploy a Modern Communications Infrastructure (Barack Obama campaign)