Over the past couple of years CSG's Technology Working Group has made great strides to collaborate with state officials, private sector members and representatives of technology related associations on critical IT projects. At the Council of State Governments 2008 Spring Conference, the group identified cyber security and broadband deployment as two critical issues affecting state governments.

For over 75 years the Council of State Governments (CSG) has served all three branches of state government as the nation's only nonpartisan association forecasting state policy trends. Since technology cuts across many realms of policy, two years ago CSG established a Technology Working Group focusing discussions on critical IT projects and IT trends emerging in state governments. Although in the past Real ID and Health IT have shaped much of the group's discussions, this May at the Council of State Governments 2008 Spring Conference, the group focused on cyber security and broadband as two critical issues where policy makers can drive legislation addressing online child protection issues and increase broadband access in unserved areas.

Despite data security breaches disrupting government services as well as citizen's lives, the working group was most concerned with the lives of children put in harm's way by online predators. The types of legislation proposed in states have dealt with data protection, age verification and cyber bullying. In addition, the working group found it critical for policy makers to understand the role of technology in successfully implementing provisions of these laws. The group also noted some challenges in combating this issue. From a wireless industry perspective, the group indicated that as carriers move to open access models, proposing or requiring identity verification of users accessing social networks has been a challenging task given that carriers must allow access to all commerce and users.

Broadband availability was the second issue addressed by the working group. The group praised pioneers in the rural broadband expansion such as ConnectKentucky, ConnectTennessee and Connected Nation. In addition, the group directed members to review a recent report by the National Governor Association, State Efforts to Expand Broadband. The report highlights what policy makers are doing to get broadband available in their states. It is expected legislatures will take on this issue in different ways, as each state has different strategies. Although there are a number of reasons to endorse greater broadband access, policy makers are particularly interested in facilitating access to online higher education courses, e-health and in public safety broadband can facilitate automated information sharing between jurisdictions.

Acknowledging that technology has become the very fabric of how government functions and an integral part of service delivery, CSG has allowed the technology working group to play a greater role in shaping legislation considered by CSG's Suggested State Legislation (SSL) committee. In successive meetings, as the SSL committee drafts model legislation to inspire policy makers to take similar steps in their states on various policy areas, the committee will refer to the working group technology-related legislation for discussion, amendment, approval or dismissal of such legislation. Given the importance of this action, the working group is also seeking representation of the broader IT community, calling on the expertise of the IT industry and Association leaders to further shape state legislation.