CIOs look into the 'e-future'

FALLS CHURCH, VA. — More and more electronic government, fiber optics and

increased connectedness are on the agenda for 2000, according to three state

information technology professionals who spoke Monday at the sixth annual

State of the States briefing.

Alisoun Moore, Maryland's chief information officer, Greg Jackson, Ohio's

chief information officer, and Bette Dillehay, Virginia's deputy secretary

of technology, explained their priorities for the year ahead as they tried

to sell their state to hundreds of business representatives attending the

conference.

The one-day conference included discussions on using technology in transportation,

e-commerce strategies and public/private sector partnerships.

Moore joked that her state's name should be changed to "eMaryland." She

outlined a "bold" goal to put government services online: By 2002, 50 percent

of services will be online; by 2003, 65 percent; and by 2004, 80 percent.

Her goal includes an environment where teachers e-mail students, students

check on homework online and businesses bid products to the state and send

verified documents electronically. She also said Maryland is planning to

use 400 miles of fiber optics to connect most city institutions and has

rewritten its Technology Master Plan.

The state has also created a chief information officer position at each

agency that would work directly with her, Moore said.

Jackson's goals for Ohio include having all agencies capable of sending

and receiving e-mail by year's end, making all forms available online and

bringing together the various "disjointed" e-commerce initiatives.

Dillehay said Virginia plans to use technology internally to increase the

efficiency of government, not just to help the constituents. She said the

government must also focus on business-project management.

Earlier in the day, Don Upson, Virginia's secretary of technology and the

event's keynote speaker, told the crowd that his state planned to organize

several task forces to tackle both local e-government issues and economic

development.

Upson said the local government initiative would mark the first time a state

lead an effort to help its cities and counties become "wired."