First U.S. tech officer will have hands full

WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama's pledge to name the nation's first chief technology officer has triggered a flood of wishes, hopes and demands from tech enthusiasts who'd like the job to have the same stature and reach as, say, the White House national security adviser.

The new officer should be an "Internet evangelist" involved in every practical and policy aspect of government, said Andrew Rasiej, a founder of two websites about politics and technology.

"Technology is not a slice of the pie. It's the pan," he said.

That's not quite how the Obama transition team defines the job on its website. The chief technology officer is assigned to make sure federal computer networks are secure and agencies "use best-in-class technologies and share best practices."

Transition spokesman Nick Shapiro hints at a bit more in the only statement the team will make on the record. "We have used technology to help run an historically innovative and open transition," he said. "The chief technology officer will help us continue to bring government into the 21st century."

Thousands of people are suggesting priorities for the tech officer on a website called ObamaCTO.org. At the top of the list, with more than 12,600 votes, is making the Internet widely accessible and ensuring Net neutrality — that is, making broadband connections available on a non-discriminatory basis, with no preferential treatment for any company in terms of transmission speed and quality.

In second place with more than 9,800 votes is "ensure our privacy and repeal the Patriot Act," the law enacted after the 9/11 attacks that gives authorities new tools to fight terrorism. Also in the top five: Rethink copyright law, move to the metric system and open up government data.

Only the last one fits with the current job description and Obama's campaign pledges to put bills, contracts, meetings and other federal business on the Web. Clearly the technology community has its own ideas.

"There are a lot of issues they are passionate about," said Mike Mathieu, whose civic-software company, Front Seat, sponsored the site.