Ohio Gov. Announces Creation of E-Commerce Council

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft announced Wednesday the creation of a Governor's Council on Electronic Commerce to provide leadership for establishing e-commerce throughout state government.

The council, which Taft unveiled during his State of the State Address, will be chaired by the state's chief information officer, Greg Jackson, and will take overall responsibility for Ohio's state government e-commerce activity. Plans call for the council to focus on four specific areas:

* Developing a strategic plan for electronic delivery of state services within one year.

* Helping agencies post their most frequently requested forms online by Dec. 31 and having all key services online by 2002.

* Revamping the state's World Wide Web site to enable customers to search for services.

* Creating a "one stop e-shop" that permits businesses to conduct transactions with the state through a single online form.

"Like our forbearers, we have been empowered with the technology of our times," Taft said. "Cell phones, pagers, laptops, the Internet and digital technology have revolutionized the way we listen, learn and live. Technology is changing the world as we know it...and time seems to move faster than ever before."