Obama promotes plans for wireless expansion

[babylonsister]

Obama promotes plans for wireless expansion
By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press


WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama wants nearly all Americans to have access to speedy wireless services. He's promoting that plan in a small city in Michigan that's becoming a model for how the Internet can bring prosperity to far-flung places.

Obama on Thursday heads to Marquette, Mich., a university and tourism town of 20,000 overlooking Lake Superior that cherishes both its geographical remoteness and technological savvy. He'll see high-tech wireless initiatives in action at Northern Michigan University, where students telecommute, and talk about the plan in his State of the Union address to expand access to high-speed wireless to 98 percent of the population within five years.

It's a lofty goal considering such technology is only now being built in major cities by AT&T, Verizon and others. And it costs billions of dollars that Republicans probably will be unwilling to spend. But it's all part of Obama's new focus on innovation, technology and competitiveness as a pathway to jobs and "winning the future" — the new White House mantra.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110210/ap_on_re_us/us_obama

[Clio the Leo]

1. the news of which is even more powerful as I'm watching the Twitter/Facebook revolution in Egypt.

Power to the People

[Vinca]

2. That's nice. I'm sure the people who die without heat will be excited at the news.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

3. has there actually been proper verification of that 'reduction' in funds

aside from one nameless source thats mind reading?

[brentspeak]

4. Here's some names for you: AP, the National Journal, John Kerry and Ed Markey

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/newsnow/x639359635/Markey-Kerry-urge-against-cuts-to-heating-assistance-program

U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-7th, and Sen. John Kerry are calling on the president not to cut heating assistance for low-income families.

The National Journal and Associated Press reported yesterday that the Obama administration plans to cut funding for the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) roughly in half.

The president has not yet released his 2012 budget proposal. LIHEAP funding would drop from about $5.1 billion to $2.5 billion, its 2008 level, under the soon-to-be-released plan, Associated Press reported.

Kerry called on President Obama to maintain level funding.

Does that help answer your question?

[Kdillard]

5. Stop trying to reason with the unreasonable. They want to rage and believe

that Obama is evil even though he more than doubled the funding for the program and there is no proof that the cuts proposed will be implemented. The faux outrage is ridiculous.