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Idaho Eyes E-Commerce Initiatives
by Liza Porteus
Idaho is trying to put itself on the edge of the digital era by using technology to enhance government and consumer services.
The Electronic Commerce Interim Committee -- established under a resolution, H. Con. Res. 31, that state lawmakers adopted this year -- held its second meeting toward that end last Friday. "They're getting a feel for what Idaho has been doing as far as e-government before they delve into the e-commerce aspect of it," said legislative aide Maureen Ingram.
Led by state Sen. Bart Davis and state Rep. Robert Schaefer, the group heard state Commerce Department Director Gary Mahn's update on Idaho's e-commerce activities, with a particular emphasis on tax credits for high-speed Internet access. Last year, lawmakers passed a bill, H.B. 377, that provides tax credits for research and development, job creation, broadband deployment and investment in counties with high unemployment or low personal income.
Because of the Gem State's rural nature, many residents who work from home in the global marketplace could benefit from the broadband credits, Ingram said. "We're kind of hoping that some of the legislation that was passed last year -- we can see how it is working," Ingram said.
Kevin Johnson of the Idaho State Police also attended the e-commerce committee's meeting to discuss the formation of a new cyber-crime unit within his department. And the panel studied an analysis by the Oregon Internet Commission on how that Idaho neighbor could make sure it stays on the cutting edge of the new economy.
Other tech-related measures signed into law this year by Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne include:
- S.B. 1170, which keeps violent sex offenders permanently on the state's sex-offender registry, and S.B. 1192, which provides Internet access to information about those on the list.
- H.B. 316, which allows students to participate in individualized computer and/or distance-learning programs.
- S.B. 1158, which authorizes state agencies to sell bonds, notes and other obligations at private or public sales via electronic bidding.
- H.B. 112, which provides a nonrefundable credit against taxes for electronically filed tax returns.
- H.B. 148, which prevents the state from requiring citizens to pay taxes or other fees by electronic fund transfers.
The New York Software Industry Association (NYSIA) has sent seven questions to candidates for New York City mayor, comptroller and public advocate. Candidates can answer the questions via an online form, and all answers will be posted on NYSIA's Web site, as will information on how to contact the candidates.
Among other things, NYSIA asks the candidates about: their intentions to promote the growth of the software, information technology, Web-development and related high-tech industries in New York City, which is known as Silicon Alley; how they would increase the supply of skilled workers for the industry; how they would improve science and technical education; what they would do to guarantee the city a world-class telecommunications infrastructure and sustainable pool of affordable commercial real estate; and what changes they would recommend in the city tax code that would impact the industry.
The primary election is Sept. 11.
California Lawmakers To Tackle Election Reform
Election reform is one of the issues California lawmakers must tackle before their session adjourns Sept. 14. The California Voter Foundation has cited A.B. 56 as the voting-reform measure most likely to win passage.
That bill, currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee and one of several bond initiatives the legislature is considering placing on the March ballot, would provide $300 million for new election equipment. But it is silent on two issues raised by some Republicans: the effectiveness of the voting-equipment certification process in light of new technology and the need for a paper trail in vote-counting.
A.B. 56 would require a two-thirds vote of both houses and Gov. Gray Davis' signature to qualify for the ballot.
California County Reaches Out To Silicon Valley
Stanislaus County, Calif., is trying to promote itself as a great place for Silicon Valley businesses. The county board of supervisors last week approved a marketing plan to encourage valley businesses to consider relocating their operations to Stanislaus County.
The plan calls for opening an office in the valley and involves three partners. The office will cost about $238,000 a year.
The county will work with the Stanislaus County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDCO) and the Workforce Investment Board to gather information on which valley businesses would best fit the community. It also will hold a valley-to-valley symposium and send representatives to targeted valley businesses.
Stanislaus County will tout that it has 1,660 acres of vacant space in business parks, affordable housing, and roads that are not as congested as those in Silicon Valley.
The county board also accepted a $161,000 grant from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District to increase the information on motor-vehicle emissions available on the Internet. The grant will be used to allow residents to conduct more business online.
The Happenings With BellSouth
BellSouth is more than halfway done fitting its customer base in North Carolina with high-speed Internet access, reports The Charlotte Observer. At least 70 percent of BellSouth's North Carolina customers should have access to digital subscriber lines by the end of the year.
The Florida Public Service Commission also recently adopted standards to evaluate how BellSouth deals with wholesale customers, reports The Business Journal. Meeting the standards is critical for BellSouth to gain approval as a long-distance carrier. The commission asked BellSouth to submit an assessment by October.
Taking Florida Voting To A New Level
Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris last week approved the first touch-screen computers for use at polling places statewide, reports Florida's Sun-Sentinel. The decision is likely to be followed by the approval of a second touch-screen system, setting off a statewide competition to outfit large, urban counties with them. Miami-Dade and Hillsborough lead the list of counties that could strike multimillion-dollar deals before next year's elections.
The Sun-Sentinel also reports that Broward County government leaders want local computer whiz kids to test the security of the high-tech voting equipment they may buy. Election officials want a mock election at high schools and senior-citizen condos to give the different brands of computerized voting a trial run.
Utah Touts Tech In Ads
A new Utah advertising campaign is touting technology as a way to attract businesses to the state, reports The Deseret News. The $750,000 campaign, set to begin this week and continue past the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, will feature ads in various publications.
The effort is being headed by the Utah Technology Alliance, formerly known as the Silicon Valley Alliance, which seeks to boost the tech presence in the state and get rural Utahans connected to Silicon Valley companies to telework. The ads will run in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Entrepreneur in northern California, and on National Public Radio.
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