A Nation of the People and IP Addresses

Minnesota: electronic health transactions the law

Government Technology: Beginning in 2009, Minnesota will equire electronic submission of health transactions. "The new requirements, signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty as part of the 2007 Omnibus Health and Human Services funding bill, apply to all health care providers and affects virtually anyone who bills for or buys health care services on behalf of a group of people," including "auto insurers, chiropractors, dentists, pharmacists, workers compensation insurers and others."

Where is Muninet Wireless Broadband?

MuniWireless has posted an updated list of municipal wireless initiatives.

Senator calls for 100Mb national Net access

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.) has introduced legislation establishing a national goal for the universal deployment of next-generation, 100 megabit Internet access by 2015, "and calling upon Congress and the President to develop a strategy, enact legislation, and adopt policies to accomplish this objective," according to Thomas. The goal is 10 megabit service by the end of 2010, and 100 megabits service by the end of 2015. 

NASCIO releases state health IT report

NASCIO has just released a compendium of state health IT efforts. Listed for each state, according to the introduction on the association's publications page, are standard descriptions, ranging from executive orders to legislative-driven initiatives to public/private or public/non-profit partnerships.

CIOs seek to coordinate federal IT spending in states

Public CIO has more information on the most recent NASCIO Washington fly-in, touching on the announced reason for the trip, the need to coordinate federal IT outlays in state government with state CIOs:

The CIOs also met with members of non-governmental organizations such as the National [Governors] Association and the eHeatlh Initiative. While three-quarters of a state CIO's work involves implementing federal funds, [Wisconsin CIO Matt] Miszewski says, too often the allocation and dispersal of federal money for state IT projects occurs without the involvement of the CIO.

Hat tip: NASCIO Enterprise Architecture News Briefs

CIOs pursue Capitol agenda

According to Government Technology, state government CIOs visited Washington recently during the NASCIOs sixth-annual D.C. fly-in. One of the issues on the agenda was federal funding complexities. The group has just published a call to action on the issue, States Need Reform in Federal IT Funding:

Currently, the general guidelines attached to federal programmatic funding do not promote enterprise IT shared solutions, infrastructure optimization or the integrated channels of services sought by citizens. The state IT landscape has changed significantly, yet federal grant funding guidelines do not reflect this new environment. As millions of new federal dollars are spent on IT that supports human services, public health, justice and homeland security, a change in attitude toward enterprise IT solutions and flexible commingling guidelines with specific cost-allocation options could greatly improve the return on every federal dollar spent on information systems in the states.

According to Doug Robinson, executive director for NASCIO, "A total of 36 separate meetings were held. Of those, 30 were with Members of Congress or their staffs, 4 were with federal agencies..."

The organization also recently published this brief on the position of chief information security officer (CISO) and will likely follow up with a survey.

Earthlink WiFi phone?

Over at Om Malik's blog, Katie Fehrenbacher writes than in addition to developing muni-broadband networks, Earthlink is planning a WiFi-only phone. The company plans to sell voice and data subscriptions.

"Netroots" changing telecom lobbying game?

CIO Insight takes note of the so-called "netroots" action in favor of network neutrality, suggesting that the grassroots movement might be changing the nature of the lobbying game.

Kentucky awarded for innovation, broadband

ConnectKentucky has been named the winner of a national excellence in economic development award, according to Government Technology. Governor Ernie Fletcher's Prescription for Innovation, of which ConnectKentucky is a part, is credited with increasing broadband availability and usage by 33 and 45 percent, respectively. The goal is to make broadband avialable to 100 percent of the homes in the commonwealth by 2007. That figure is currently 82 percent.

The Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce made the award. More information on awarded programs is available on its web site.

GovTech: Wisconsin Signs Broadband Bill

According to Government Technology, Wisconsin has signed into law a bill that it hopes will increase broadband availability in the state. Companies that demonstrate that they will expand broadband in areas of the state where there are one (or none) providers will be eligible tax credits.