Create incentive programs to expand broadband’s reach. Develop more environmentally friendly technology. And, oh yes, be prepared to offer advice to the president on all areas of technology. These would be just a few items on the agenda of a White House CTO. Shortly after he launched his quest for the Oval Office Illinois Senator Barack Obama pledged that if elected he would create the first-ever Cabinet-level post of chief technology officer. BusinessWeek Online handicaps what role a U.S. CTO would play and also tosses in a few candidates who would be considered for the job, including Vint Cerf, Google’s “chief Internet evangelist,” and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. If Obama is elected, expanding broadband penetration in the U.S., particularly in rural areas, would most likely be Job One. The U.S. ranked 15th among industrial nations in penetration, with just 23 out of 100 Americans having access to broadband service, according to a report released earlier this year by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
