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Tech Takes Center Stage In Agendas, Budgets
Owens Highlights ID Theft, Filtering
Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, R, gave his State of the State address last week and highlighted how the Internet can help and harm his constituents. He said steps must be taken to increase the penalties for those who engage in identity theft. "Our citizens must feel safe that they can conduct business online without people stealing personal information," he said. "I believe we must also do more to protect our children from hate, pornography and violence on the Internet."
Owens also said Colorado public schools and libraries should include filtering software to limit children's access to hate, pornography and violence on publicly funded computers. "Our libraries don't use taxpayer funds to buy hate magazines or pornographic magazines," he said. "They shouldn't use taxpayer funds to allow access to the same material online."
South Dakota's T1 Is No. 1
South Dakota Gov. Bill Janklow, R, also gave his State of the State address last week and hailed the state's e-mail system as a growing educational phenomenon. In November 1999, he said, three state educators from the K-12 system were on the network for e-mail. Now there are 7,793 educators on the Dakota Digital Network (DDN) that have sent more than 3,065,000 e-mails since August. The state's interactive video system also is helping teachers reach children in rural areas.
"You meet people in and out of the legislature that say we've done enough for technology in schools. My friends, that's like saying we've done enough in advances in medicine," Janklow said. "We will never be done, ever be done. This is one of the most important things that's ever happened to South Dakota. This is the great equalizer."
Janklow also stressed the need for improvements in math and science. "When are the high-tech jobs coming to South Dakota? ... We read all the time about all these high-paying jobs elsewhere in the tens of thousands a year," he said. "My friends, they will come when we have a labor force that can learn the skills. That's when they'll come."
South Carolina Focuses On Job Retraining
On Wednesday, South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges, D, told citizens in his State of the State address that he asked Commerce Secretary Charles Way to lead the Rural Task Force for South Carolina to look at ways to improve job retraining for displaced workers. He also said he will focus on making high-speed Internet service affordable in rural communities.
"As we make strides in the new economy, we must make sure that those employed in the old economy aren't left behind," Hodges said.
Hodges also requested $4.4 million in his fiscal 2001 budget for the state Justice Department for the court's technology infrastructure. "To operate efficiently and responsively, the judicial system is in dire need of technological modernization," Hodges wrote in his request, supporting the court's move to develop and implement a state-of-the-art computer system to link state and local courts, improve the case-management process and provide access to information.
Cellucci Encourages E-Government
Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci, R, stressed the need for more e-government in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Cellucci appointed a cross-section of public- and private-sector individuals to build online services to make government more accessible to Massachusetts' residents.
In the next few months, while striving to protect the privacy of Internet users who access the state Web site, Cellucci also will announce a new Web address, make the state's Web site easier to navigate and unveil a marketing campaign to educate the public about online services. "E-government will make state government more immediately responsive to the needs of our citizens," he said.
Pataki Looks To Up Tech In NY
On Tuesday, New York Gov. George Pataki, R, outlined his fiscal 2001 budget, requesting funding for a new pilot program that would provide $7.5 million to recognize and reward educational improvement in the Big Five Cities through school-wide, performance-based awards. The proposal would provide a $4 million, or 10 percent, increase for computer software, while funding for computer hardware would increase by $500,000, or 1.9 percent.
Pataki's budget also calls for $2.5 million for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) and its collegiate counterpart (CSTEP). It would provide $1.7 million for the Empire State Technology Employment Incentive Program, and $1.9 million to attract international trade to New York and to increase exports to foreign countries. The executive budget also would provide $243.6 million for economic development initiatives, including those for biotechnology and high-tech projects, as well as the JOBS NOW program — for large-scale projects aimed at creating new jobs.
Bush Boosts PowerUP
GOP Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday attended the ITFlorida task force in Jacksonville and announced the first 24 Web sites selected for PowerUP Florida — an effort by state and private partnerships aimed at bridging the state's digital divide. The announcement was made in conjunction with Florida A&M University Institute for Urban Policy and Commerce during its Cybertown Meeting.
The ITFlorida task force is a 34-member bipartisan commission whose mission is to develop policy and legislative recommendations to promote the growth and success of Florida's information technology industry. The PowerUP program includes Gateway computers, Internet access through America Online, trained adult mentors and programs for youth between the ages of six and 18 in urban areas.
Georgia Governor Announces Tech Initiative
Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, D, on Friday announced that the Georgia Technology Authority is launching an initiative to build a communications network that will connect the entire state. The network is expected to improve constituent access to government and promote economic development by providing each community with a solid network infrastructure.
The move represents one of the largest procurements for information and communications technology in the state's history. The scope of the initiative may include voice, data, video, two-way radio, cellular/wireless technologies and support services, including asset management. The request for proposal is expected to be issued during the third quarter of 2001.
IT Committee Has New Heads
National League of Cities (NLC) President Dennis Archer, mayor of Detroit, MI, has named Nancy Nathanson, a council member in Eugene, OR, as chairwoman of the NLC's Information Technology and Communications Committee for 2001. The two vice chairmen will be Michael Brasher, council president in Albuquerque, NM, and Jim Dailey, mayor of Little Rock, AR.
- by Liza Porteus
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