Washington - As one of the top overall contributors to the Obama campaign and inauguration, Internet search giant Google (NASD: GOOG) now plans to begin wielding some of its new-found influence in Washington, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Silicon Valley-based company plans to push for the expansion of high-speed Internet access, allowing more people to utilize its services, as well as network neutrality, which would keep service providers from charging sites to deliver their content more quickly.

"This administration is more focused on science and technology," Google CEO Eric Schmidt told the paper.

"That's positive for all of technology, and particularly Google."

Schmidt was one of four Google executives on Obama's transition team, and the company last month formally opened its new office in Reston, Virginia, to focus on business with the federal government.

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http://snipurl.com/arwpc (Los Angeles Times)