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With the election decided, President-Elect Barack Obama has a long road ahead of him. Walking into a deep hole, one that has been dug deep the past eight years, Obama has outlined and already begun work on bringing change to this country. Cabinet positions are being discussed, and Congress is already being called upon to enact legislation that will jump start the Obama administration’s efforts.

Obama is the first President to be declared a technology junky. He carries his BlackBerry everywhere he goes, and is trying to be the first President to have his Apple laptop at the ready in the Oval Office. Open information acts such as the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record, ultimately up for review and possible subpoena, as well as various national security issues may prevent these wishes from being granted, but his technological fascination has led to the creation of the countries first Chief Technology Officer (CTO) as a cabinet-level position.

Reed Hundt (right), the former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman during the Clinton administration, has been tapped by the Obama team to lead the transition team’s technology efforts. His expertise will likely bring large-scale reform to the FCC, a commission that has been led by Republican chairmen since Clinton was termed out of office.

What this means for America is change. Obama is looking to bring drastic change to technological policies, including implementing net-neutrality – something current communication and justice leaders oppose due to the deep pockets of telecommunication companies. This nation can expect President-Elect Obama and his administration to focus on promoting net-neutrality and open-access to information through federal broadband lines in rural areas, bringing broadband connections to more areas than before.

The 21-month long Presidential race has tested Obama’s strength, and he has proven he is up for the challenges he is only months away from inheriting. And Obama is showing us that he is not going to wait until inauguration day to put his plans in motion. In an interview with 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft, Obama shared his thoughts and goals on where he plans to take the nation and offered some insight into his transition team. He is currently working on finalizing his National Security team, he is working tirelessly on his cabinet team, and working with lawmakers and Congress to help save the economy.

The next four years will test the endurance of President-Elect Obama. But he is already beginning his work during the transition.

The CBS 60 Minutes interview embedded below.

Photo Credit: Welt Online and Ars

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