Stimulus and Digital Divide

So I just came across an article about how a part of the stimulus package is going to try and help. The package is giving about 7 billion dollars to "accelerate broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas and to strategic institutions that are likely to create jobs or provide significant public benefits." While the money may seem like a lot the "the amount is but a fraction of what is needed to establish the United States in terms of broadband versus other developed countries." One of President Obamas aides has said that the "broadband piece of the Obama agenda is not going to be done solely in the economic recovery package" and that the President "Obama will still pursue goals of expanding broadband access for the unserved and underserved and getting public safety officials a national network." I think this is interesting because when I looked for things about the digital divide and former President Bush I found articles on how little he tried to do. When President Bush entered office the US was 4 in broadband penetration and coming out of office the US was 15th. I think its interesting how the President can influence the digital divide. Also Obama is a man who e mails a lot and Bush didn't at all so its funny how there is also a generational gap between the two Presidents.

Stimulus and Digital divide
http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessCompany/idUKTRE51F3GS20090216?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Bush and technology
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/03/6811

Obama
http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/news/story.html?id=36db9037-6054-4eea-b9c2-8d58d2123228