Front What’s New from the World of Tech
sending a message After much debate, President Obama finally signed a stimulus bill that ensures, among other things, money for technology so he can continue to use his BlackBerry.
Tech Gets a Cash Boot-Up The economic stimulus act dedicates billions to technology development. The economic stimulus package has dominated nightly newscasts and newspaper headlines for months. Democrats and Republicans disagree over whether the bill will actually boost the economy or simply give handouts to companies that help cause this mess. Despite the political pugilism, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has passed, and the final version includes some serious cash for techrelated projects. The money invested could have some significant long-term effects on Photograph: Getty Images/Saul Loeb
the tech landscape—in both the public and private sectors. So what are your tax dollars buying tech-wise? Basically everything from broadband grants and a $650 million boost to the DTV program to an upgraded electric grid and millions of dollars worth of explosive-detection devices at airports. Here is a more in-depth breakdown of some of the technology projects and initiatives that will get funding. Access to broadband is increasingly considered essential to competing in our
21st-century economy. The package allocates $7.2 billion for broadband grants and loans, split between the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Commerce Department. Agriculture must allocate at least 75 percent of its $2.5 billion to rural areas without sufficient access to broadband, and these grants must be open-access. The NTIA will also get $350 million to track MARCH 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION
