IEEE-USA In Action

[Posted: 12  December 2008]

IEEE-USA Participates in Technology-Enhancement Meeting with Obama Transition Team

WASHINGTON (11 December 2008) — The United States should deploy universal broadband and increase energy efficiency, among other things, to promote economic growth and spur job creation, two IEEE-USA presidents said in a letter presented to President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team.

IEEE-USA made some of its recommendations in a meeting with four members of Obama's Science, Technology and Innovation Transition Task Force at AeA's Washington headquarters on 5 December. IEEE-USA was one of roughly 50 organizations invited to share ideas on what the new administration could do to stimulate the economy within Obama's first 60 days in office.

"Technology and innovation remain the cornerstone of our nation's economy," 2008 IEEE-USA President Russ Lefevre and 2009 President Gordon Day wrote. "Any plan for creating jobs and economic growth begins with encouraging innovation that promotes those new ideas and products and, ultimately, results in jobs."

IEEE-USA made recommendations in six areas: research & development investments, broadband, health care, energy infrastructure, small business and long-term priorities.

By expanding ubiquitous broadband access into rural areas, more people could compete for technology-based jobs without relocating. Plus, the incentive for high-tech companies to establish operations in these lower-cost areas is enhanced. This helps keep jobs in the United States.

"As with the universal deployment of electricity and telephone service, universal broadband service, coupled with new Internet applications, will generate economic and social gains that far exceed the investment in the enabling infrastructure," the presidents wrote.

IEEE-USA believes that by investing in such things as Smart Grid technologies, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and clean, renewable energy sources, U.S. energy efficiency will increase.

"We also need to increase our electricity reliability by upgrading our aging national transmission grid," presidents Lefevre and Day wrote. "These steps can stimulate economic activity, create jobs and ensure that our country has abundant supplies of reliable and affordable electric power."

The letter is available at http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/policy/2008/120508.pdf

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of more than 215,000 engineers, scientists and allied professionals who are U.S. members of the IEEE. IEEE-USA is part of the IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society with 375,000 members in 160 countries. See www.ieeeusa.org.

CONTACT:

Chris McManes
IEEE-USA Public Relations Manager
Phone: + 1 202 530 8356
E-mail: c.mcmanes@ieee.org

Last Update:  10 July 2009