Special Edition Winter 2012

InsIde

Smart Phone revolution: iS California ready?

CDCR’s Green IT Program

Digital Literacy and the Thin Copper Line

California Leaders Encouraged by FCC Broadband Expansion in 2012

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 3

Contents

san Francisco Mayor Appointed to Head Task Force 6

California Mobility-Guest Commentary by secretary Carlos Ramos 7

CdCR IT Program Going Green 8

smart Phone Revolution: Is California Ready? 10

digital Literacy and the Thin Copper Line 12

dMV Considers e-readers 16

Techwire Winter 2012

4 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

Techwire.neT

1005 12th Street, Suite 10

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 476-4789

Publisher and ediTor

Bill Maile

PhoTo ediTor

Bill Foster

MulTiMedia ediTor

Patrick Kuske

design ediTor

Emory Ensign

CoPy ediTor

Kathleen Stacey

WriTer

Ashley Nelson

WriTer

Elise Armitage

ConTribuTor

Robert Lindstrom

aCCounT exeCuTive

Sherilyn Hammond

916.799.5682

Sherilyn@techwire.net

Read by opinion leaders, policy makers, the vendor community

and government IT workforce, Techwire has a well-defined audience

focused on the public-sector technology industry in California.

Our goal is to gather and publish news and information related

to this community, and to document the efforts by those helping

to modernize California’s digital infrastructure and access to

information.

Launched in September 2011,

Techwire.net is an independent

publication not affiliated with

any public-entity or particular

organization. Support comes from

industry and non-profit sponsors

in the technology field.

Techwire is published by Bill Maile who previously served as

communications director for the State Chief Information Officer and

California Technology Agency. Prior to working at the agency, he was

Chief Deputy Press Secretary for Governor Schwarzenegger and has

spent more than fifteen years working in state government representing

members of California’s Legislature and Executive Branch.

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 5

A Q&A with Entisys Solutions Transformational Impacts of Mobility

Q: Jaymes, the IT industry has undergone significant changes from the days of the mainframe computer. In your opinion, what are the key transformations that have led up to today?

A: In the 1980s, the migration from mainframe computing to distributed computing was really the first major transformation within enterprise computing, as it gave users their desktop computers, loaded with applications and tools specific to their job functions. During the late 1990s, to meet demand for greater mobility and flexibility, IT departments everywhere began trading in desktop computers for laptops, further transforming the way business users interact with technology. Finally, during the first decade of the 21st century, IT went through yet another significant transformation with the introduction of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices into the enterprise.

Q: With each of these transformations, IT departments across both the public and private sectors have faced some unique challenges, particularly when mobile computing came into play. Can you tell us more about these challenges?

A: Yes, with the introduction of mobile computing, we saw organizations large and small, face the devastating consequences of security breaches, as corporate information traveled beyond company walls and into a world where theft, and sometimes carelessness, were responsible for the loss of important data such as social security numbers, financial information, and in comes cases, trade secrets.

Q: What has IT learned from these challenges, and how does virtualization solve some of these issues?

A: IT has learned quite a bit from these experiences, and since the days of the mainframe computer, we’ve almost come full circle with data and information again becoming centralized through virtualization. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI in particular, has been instrumental in making it possible for mobile workforces and the IT departments that support them, to become armed with the tools they need to avoid many of the security breaches, data losses and the inefficiencies caused by these events.

The presentation technology inherent in virtualization, and VDI in particular, affords public and private sector enterprises improved security, enhanced efficiencies and significant potential cost-savings.

Q: When you talk about presentation technology, what do you mean by this concept?

A: Virtualization, and the introduction of VDI specifically, have given enterprise IT the ability to migrate from a device-oriented architecture to a user-oriented architecture, and presentation technology is the separation of the user interface (UI) from the hardware.

Q: Why is it important to separate the user interface from the hardware?

A: Today’s enterprise users have multiple mobile devices at their disposal. They may have a laptop, tablet computer, business smart phone, and a personal smart phone that they are bringing on premises when they come to work everyday. Suddenly, an IT manager responsible for the technology used by 2,500 employees is now faced with managing up to 10,000 devices. This quickly becomes a nightmare from a security and efficiency standpoint because the IT manager has no idea what all of the devices are doing, and what information is being collected from corporate networks when the devices are in use.

This is where virtualization, VDI and centralization come into play. By making it possible for users to access their corporate desktop or mobile interface across every single one of their hardware devices, IT departments can ensure that software updates, troubleshooting and security are managed simultaneously across all devices, which supports improved security, increased efficiencies and potential cost reductions.

Furthermore, with mobile hypervisors, which are now available from Citrix, VMware, other virtualization software developers and OEMs, users can run two phone operating systems on their smartphones or tablets to avoid mixing business and personal functions.

Q: Virtualization encompasses a number of areas including servers, desktop and mobile, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is term that is being used more often these days. Can you explain more about this concept and what it means for the enterprise?

A: First of all, I want to be clear that VDI is not the same as desktop virtualization. With desktop virtualization, IT is managing thin clients, or dumb terminals that are connected to a centralized application server. VDI is what makes it possible for enterprises to manage the desktop image and make it available on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. This is why VDI is such a critical tool that can help today’s public and private sector IT departments manage the growing usage of mobile devices across their enterprises.

Thank you for your time Jaymes. To learn more about Entisys Solutions as well as virtualization and mobile computing, please visit www.entisyspublicsector.com.This has been an advertorial for Entisys Solutions, Inc.

Recently, we sat down with Jaymes Davis, virtualization practice manager for Entisys Solutions, Inc., the West Coast’s

#1 provider of enterprise virtualization and access delivery solutions from the data center to the desktop and into the

cloud, to talk about the transformational impacts of technology, and how virtualization can help IT departments in

light of the explosive growth in the usage of personal mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, across both

public and private sector enterprises.

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6 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

With deep roots in the tech-sector and home to such giants as Twitter and Salesforce.com, it is predicable that San Francisco would be at the center of such an effort.Led by Mayor Lee, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Technology and Innovation Task Force will look at ways to ensure the tax structure is equitable and government data is accessible by private companies for the development of applications that benefit the public. Among other goals, the task force wants to find ways to work with company CEOs to ensure that cities attract entrepreneurs and

foster the growth of startup companies. The task force was formed by USCM President and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villiaragosa at the organization’s winter meeting to work on issues and provide recommendations to Congress and the Obama Administration.

“...it is predicable that

San Francisco would be at the

center of such an effort.”San Francisco’s city government has a history of being cutting edge. The city’s open data initiative included the launch of DataSF.org, a website

designed to increase access to city data and engage the skilled workforce of San Francisco. Then Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2010 established the nation’s first open source policy for city government, calling for open and transparent government. In his announcement, Newsom said “San Francisco’s world class technology community will take City data we collect and develop new and innovative applications that will serve the public better and transform government.” DataSF.org used open source technology to make publicly available more than 150 datasets from various city departments.

With events like Disrupt SF, filled with Hackathons and discussions of startups, San Francisco boasts a large tech-enthusiast community, including the exclusive Founder’s Den, a shared office space and private club for experienced entrepreneurs and their friends.

san Francisco Mayor appointed to head Task force on Technology, innovaTionBy Elise Armitage

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee wants cities to be “laboratories

for innovation,” to create new jobs, improve the economy and

make government more open and efficient. Lee was recently

appointed to head a task force among mayors across the

nation, to find ways to support the growth of technology to

ensure that residents are educated and prepared for the

21st century economy.

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 7

California Mobility Guest Commentary by Technology Agency Secretary Carlos Ramos

Millions of Californians carry mobile

devices, such as smart phones

and tablet computers, transforming

how they access information and

connect to service providers. More

and more people are using this

technology as a convenient way to

access services such as shopping,

banking, healthcare, entertainment

and government.

Mobile computing has become an indispensible line of communication between citizens and government. This technological transformation has created an opportunity for state government to provide efficient and effective services and interaction with its citizens.

Californians use mobile devices to access information and services conveniently – at any time, from any place and any device. Mobile devices are so integrated in our lives that it would be hard for many of us to imagine life any other way. 93 percent of California adults have a mobile phone. Calls received from mobile phones account for 77 percent of all 9-1-1 calls in California.What once was merely a convenience, accessing information from a mobile device has now become an expectation of the public.

Our challenge and opportunity is to leverage the public’s embrace of mobile technology to make government more convenient, more responsive and accessible at any time, from any place. And California is heeding the call: California has more than 60 mobile applications.

The Department of Motor Vehicles’ DMV Now application allows users to find local offices (with current wait times) and receive directions based on the location of the user’s smartphone. Customers can take sample written driving tests, access a library of DMV driver education videos, and other important DMV alerts.

California’s Award-winning Mobile.Ca.Gov (m.ca.gov) site connects the wireless public to government by using web-based apps that work across device platforms. The state’s common template makes it fast, easy, and inexpensive for departments to develop mobile applications, making it possible to create apps in days rather than months. The template utilizes the device GPS capability to detect a user’s location and provide maps to nearby offices, parks and other points of interest. The Mobile.Ca.Gov site receives more than 1500 “hits” per day and that number is growing.

Mobile devices are more than a convenience—they serve as a vital productivity tool, and are bridging the digital divide for many Californians. According to the Pew Research Center, most users under 30, report that they “mostly go online using their phones.” Without mobile devices, many of these Californians would not have Internet access.

The Californiav Technology Agency is collaborating with state agencies to improve service to mobile device users by developing apps that conveniently and efficiently meet their needs. It is no accident that California’s 2012 Information Technology Strategic Plan calls for accessible and mobile government. Mobile applications and mobile devices are powerful tools that have the potential to transform how we deliver services in the same way the Internet transformed services in the last decade. With the public’s move to mobile devices, there is only one way for California to address the challenge and the opportunity that mobile devices provide.

For more information about

California’s mobility, please

contact the California Technology

Agency (916) 319-9223 and visit,

www.ca.gov.

California’s Award-winning Mobile.Ca.Gov (m.ca.gov) site connects the wireless public to government by using web-based apps that work across device platforms.

8 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

CDCR Agency CIO Joe Panora

CDCR IT Program Going GreenBy Elise Armitage

Agency Chief Information Officer Joe Panora says that green IT is a “key strategic priority” for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). By installing a system that remotely controls the power use of 34,000 PCs at preprogramed times when they are not active, Panora’s department will save $750, 000 in annual energy costs. The department’s energy use for these computers has been reduced by 28 percent after hiring Verdiem, an IT energy management firm based out of Seattle, WA.

Verdiem, which originally began working with CDCR in 2009, provides the department with a dashboard view of all energy usage throughout its networks across the state. Verdiem’s Surveyor software package found that the department’s annual baseline of energy use is $2.65 million, before the savings. The department’s cost for the software was $60,000, after receiving rebates from utilities through a state program, and an ongoing annual maintenance contract for $44,390, said Panora.

Other public-sector clients of Verdiem include California’s Departments of Transportation, Health Services, Social Services, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Santa Monica, among others, according to its website.

Photos: bill Foster, Techwire.net

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 9

What has been the focus of IT at CDCR over the last several years?Over the last several years, the Enterprise Information Services (EIS) Division has continued to focus on improving the delivery of reliable IT solutions and services to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). This has been achieved through the implementation of IT standards and enterprise systems, and the centralized management of IT resources. EIS has gained operational efficiencies that have enabled the ability to continue to meet the growing IT demands of the Department, even when resources are restricted. The Department has improved the management of the business and offender operations through access to integrated enterprise data. Program improvements realized through these enterprise efforts all align with the administration’s priorities, support legislative requirements, statewide strategic concepts, and directives mandated by the Governor of California. The EIS has made great strides in the field of IT while transforming CDCR into a 21st century operation. These improvements were implemented in compliance with new state mandates including ensuring green technology, implementing and managing enterprise standardizations in IT, and providing efficiencies in operation through consolidation.

Any recent success stories you would like to talk about? I would like to mention a couple of our key successes in 2011. They were: The Consolidated Information Technology

solution across the enterprise. The SOMS when fully implemented will allow CDCR to replace its current paper based, disparate, and duplicate systems with a single, strategic, statewide solution capable of supporting all of CDCR’s adult offender management needs. The replacement of the paper offender record with an electronic file was implemented at the three women’s institutions in March 2011. This was followed in October 2011, with the implementation of the department-wide release of the SOMS software, including the central offender database and the functionality specific to intake, movements, and counts were. This functionality represents the foundation on which the rest of the modules will be built and enables CDCR to begin managing the offender population with an enterprise perspective.

Who is on your leadership team? I serve as the Director/Agency CIO over the Enterprise Information Services (EIS) Division for CDCR. Andrea Rohmann serves as the Chief Information Officer over IT Operations. Our collective management team includes: IT Operations - Sandra Chamberlin, Section Chief over Application Maintenance and Support; Elbert Lawrence, Section Chief over Infrastructure Services; Devin Holmes, Section Chief over IT Customer Service and Field Operations; Andy Osiow and Paul Smith of the BIS program, Leisa Rackelmann, Russ Nichols and Wayne Babby of the SOMS program; AIO Operations - Scott MacDonald, Agency, Information Security Officer and Lee Macklin, Section Chief over Policy/Planning, Project Management and IT Acquisitions.

CDCR Agency CIO Joe Panora Discusses Green IT and more

With more than 32 years of service with the State of California,

Panora is a veteran public servant. He recently took some time

to answer a few questions for Techwire.

Infrastructure Project (CITIP) - Through CITIP, CDCR modernized the information technology infrastructure, upgraded the existing Wide Area Network and expanded the Local Area Network, adding 25,000 additional data drops throughout the adult institutions. CITIP provided the basic power, network, and telecommunications infrastructure required for CDCR to function as an integrated enterprise, enabling statewide electronic communications and data sharing between all sites. This infrastructure set the stage for the implementation of enterprise solutions that combined will transform the way the Department manages its business and operations.

Business Information System (BIS) - Through BIS, CDCR implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that streamlined business processes, providing fiscal and operational transparency, and reducing costs across the business value chain. The BIS automated, integrated and standardized business operations specific to accounting, budget, procurement, contract, and human resources management throughout CDCR and will enable CDCR to effectively manage resources and cost allocations for related activities by providing the ability to distribute and track cost activities across funds. The final component of the core ERP functionality was implemented in November 2011.

Strategic Offender Management System (SOMS) - The CDCR has implemented the fist core component of the SOMS

Q & A

10 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

Federal Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel recently

announced a strategy toward seizing the mobile opportunity, citing

increased adoption by the American people and government

agencies and indicating areas that need mobile development to

improve productivity. The announcement prompted response

from industry, with Deloitte heralding the company’s own mobile

roadmap via Twitter. As federal government and private industry

develop smart mobile technology, Californians may wonder:

where does our state stand at adopting a mobile strategy?

The question of a mobile revolution is not a new one. The Pew Internet & American Life Project, through a national telephone survey, found that an estimated 35% of American adults own smart phones, with the majority of these owners regularly taking pictures, accessing the Internet, sending photos and videos, using email and downloading mobile applications.

The state of California has not ignored the numbers. State agencies have worked both in-house and with private sector partners to develop mobile technology in an effort to cut costs, improve productivity and make the customer experience better. Government and businesses alike will share their innovative solutions at the Feb. 8 Government Mobility conference at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The event will offer three areas of focus, with an executive track for state and local government and education executives, education sessions for IT staff who manage and support the implementation of technology, and a development lab for staff who create the technology, according to event organizer who is working closely with a number of state and local agencies.

California Technology Agency Secretary Carlos Ramos will speak about mobile technology and its impact on government. The agency will also present current mobile projects.

“As we in government try to figure out ways of using technology to make government more accessible and responsive to its constituents, we’re

Techwire | Feature

having to come to terms with the fact that more and more of the public is using mobile devices…so we’re recognizing that it’s a platform that needs to be addressed,” Ramos said in December.

Other departments have addressed the changing technology. In a December interview about his first year as chief information officer for the California Department of Health Care Services, Chris Cruz told Techwire.net that the DHCS has implemented mobile strategies including cell phone use and eventually replacing laptops with iPads.

“...we’re recognizing that

it’s a platform that needs

to be addressed”

“We also implemented a smart phone analysis for DHCS employees,” Cruz said. “We now have close to 100 staff utilizing smart phones, iPhones or Androids, which is a cost-cutting initiative. When the Governor issued his executive order at the beginning of the year to reduce cell phone usage, we took it even a step further, and folks volunteered to use their own personal phones to further reduce costs to the state. Today these 100 users are

Is California Ready for a Smartphone Revolution?By Ashley Nelson

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 11

the department’s new kiosks that offer quick service for customers waiting in DMV locations in the solutions center.

A mobile application that helps veterans connect with health, education, housing, employment and other resources will also be on display at the solutions center, according to Christie Borchin, CIO for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The application, for iPhone and Adroid devices, provides resources using GPS and connects veterans with some of the 1800 providers listed in the database. Veterans can also fill out reentry forms, connecting them with a contact in the department who can help find the necessary resources.

Borchin said developing an application that could reach the young demographic of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as older veterans who have started adopting smart phone technology was an important project that received top-down support.

currently on their own personal phones to get their email, and they voluntarily turned in their Blackberries.”

The February conference will offer government and industry to present platforms in the event’s “Solution Center.” Attendees will vote on the best solutions presented by government agencies, with awards presented for coolest, most innovative, most valuable program, and best of show, according to the event organizer. Businesses will showcase solutions in a separate solution center.

Presenters will include the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which developed the DMV Now application for iPhone and Android using in-house staff that had enough knowledge about mobile applications to create the product, according to department CIO Bernard Soriano, who will speak with DMV Director George Valverde on a panel about government mobility. The DMV will highlight the application as well

“We have a really forward thinking organization…It wasn’t even a question that it was the right thing to do,” said Borchin, who noted that downloads of the application have continued at a steady rate since its launch on Veterans Day 2011.

Also at the conference, Sprint will showcase an outfitted Metro Transport ambulance in their 20x20 space. The connected vehicle, featuring a Feeney supply device and a Sprint modem, serves as an example of vehicles outfitted for public organizations such as the San Jose Police Department. At the conference, Sprint will present at least five solutions demonstrating Machine-to-Machine solutions for the public sector in the transportation arena, according to company officials.

“We want to be more of a solution consultant for our customers than just a network provider,” said Reid Allen, Sprint West region M2M Solution sales manager. “[This] really puts us above and beyond what our competition is doing when it comes to this Machine to Machine space.”

Metro Transport Ambulance The connected vehicle, an

example of vehicles outfitted

for public organizations.

Continued on page 17

12 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

In a boating accident, a thrown lifeline

connects those in distress with those who can

help. If the line is too thin and it breaks, the

result can be fatal. So it is with basic telephone

service for many low-income individuals,

particularly for those living in remote areas

or as shut-ins. The thin copper line that

connects them to the rest of the world is not

a communication convenience, it is a lifesaver.

In 1984, to help individuals in need maintain their connection with crucial services, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) instituted Lifeline, a program that provides low-income households with discounts on the monthly cost of telephone service. In 1987, the FCC added the Link-Up program to help low-income households pay the initial costs of installing telephone service. In June 2000, the FCC expanded the Lifeline and Link-Up programs to address the needs of households on tribal lands.

Over the past two decades, Lifeline and Link-Up have helped tens of millions of Americans afford basic phone service and avoid being cut adrift from society.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski tells

the story of a woman who called the

FCC to thank the agency for the Lifeline

program. The woman said that without

the program she would not be able to

afford a phone and would be unable to

make emergency calls on behalf of her

chronically ill daughter–her phone

is literally a lifeline.

In January, the FCC announced an overhaul of the Lifeline and Link-up programs. The commission is revisiting the assistance programs for two primary reasons. First, as Genachowski explained in his announcement, the programs suffer from billions of dollars of waste and abuse. Second, and of greater importance, developments in broadband Internet, mobility and other new telecommunications services have made many of the programs’ provisions obsolete.

“The program is outdated, focused on phone service, when high-speed Internet has become our

Digital Literacy and the Thin Copper LineGovernmental effort to extend broadband to the most

disadvantaged is a sign of a healthy economy and our

nation’s humanity.

By Robert Lindstrom

vital communications platform,” Genachowski said during the announcement. The communication focus has shifted from dial-up to high-speed internet and so must programs like Lifeline.

It is appropriate that Lifeline and Link-Up subsidies be expanded to include broadband for low-income households, particularly in difficult economic times when many people need the Internet to find work. But the FCC order does something more, something that goes beyond providing broadband access. It calls for increased digital literacy training to help needy individuals take advantage of the new communications capabilities.

The FCC proposes using savings from reforms made to the Universal Service Fund to increase digital literacy training at libraries and schools. The funds

Literacy 2.0 is published and edited by Robert L. Lindstrom, an award-winning journalist, author and editor.

Photo by hoosier national Forest

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 13

for image editing skills. The Internet and browsers required us to develop new forms of information literacy. Facebook exploded on the scene with a suite of new literacies for connecting and interacting online. Video games begat new literacies for puzzle solving and navigation in virtual spaces. The list goes on.

“ Literacy 2.0 is not about

being literate in a digital way.

It is about being digital in

a literate way. ”

The emergence of new literacies is not unusual in human history, but the pace at which they are arriving is. Our electronic creations are morphing at the speed of light and with them the literacies everyone needs to survive and thrive. Many of the new literacies are learned formally in places like schools and libraries. Many more are acquired in a kind of osmosis that occurs as we engage in the everyday world using new hardware and software.

The New LiteraciesIt doesn’t take much training to teach someone to use a telephone, but becoming an adept user of computers, mobile devices and the Web is a different story. Like everyone else in the country, low-income individuals need broadband access plus Literacy 2.0 skills and attitudes.

Literacy 2.0 is not digital literacy on steroids, as some would define it. And it is not merely the next step after traditional literacy (Literacy 1.0). It is the world view that holds all the skills, attributes and attitudes necessary for living in the Digital World.

New digital tools and applications are causing new literacies to emerge the way the first spoken words required the development of syntax and the first writing implements led to reading.

The advent of the cell phone and the smartphone, for example, spawned the new literacies of texting and tweeting. Digital cameras gave birth to the need

would equip low-income Americans and others with the digital literacy skills they need to fully participate in the 21st century economy and society.

The FCC order echoes the goals of the National Broadband Plan [see sidebar] in asserting that every American should have the opportunity to become digitally literate.

The Broadband LifelineIn the Digital Age, the thin copper line has grown into a broadband conduit. The services it makes possible have quickly become ingrained and essential to living a full and participatory life.

The barriers of service costs and digital literacy are walls that separate one part of society from another. They are barriers of exclusion and deprivation that have no place in a society that prides itself on inclusion and opportunity.

The FCC plan reduces the monthly cost of broadband service and installation for low-income households, but goes further to insist that participating telecommunications service providers address other challenges to broadband adoption, such as the cost of hardware and the need for digital literacy.

The FCC’s action is a necessary extension of the role of government in seeing to it that some members of society are not left at the communication fringes. It is an encouraging sign for the country that its government agencies understand that along with helping people access and afford broadband there needs to be a concerted effort to help people learn to use it effectively.

Percent of U.S. Households with Computers, Internet Access and High-Speed Access at Home

1997 1998 2000 2001 2003 2007 2009

39%

Computer Internet Access High-Speed Access

42%

51%56%

62%

19%

26%

42%

50%50%

62%69%

4.4%9.1%

20%

51%

64%

Continued on page 12

14 Te c h w i r e W i n t e r 2 0 1 2

California Leaders Encouraged by FCC Broadband Expansion in 2012By Ashley Nelson

Our ability to deal with the changing realities of the digital era depends on our ability as groups and individuals to acquire new literacies as they arise. The challenge lies in making sure that everyone adopts and adapts a quickly as possible, and to see to it that no one falls between the communication cracks.

The Literacy of HumanityBroadband access combined with Literacy 2.0 has the potential to advance consumer welfare, civic participation, public safety and homeland security, community development, health care delivery,

energy independence and efficiency, education, employee training, private sector investment, entrepreneurial activity, job creation and economic growth.

The fact that one-third of Americans have yet to adopt broadband at home, and the fact that the majority of low-income Americans are non-adopters, is more than a problem of affordability and dissemination. Those adoption rates mean that a significant segment of the population suffers from digital illiteracy, a problem that is as serious now as the lack of traditional literacy skills once was, and to some extent still is.

An all-out push by government, schools, libraries and business is necessary to bring non-adopters up to speed with the new literacies they need to participate in and contribute to the economy and society.

The issue is not just about infrastructure and cost or even social equality and civic fairness. Ultimately, societies that throw a broadband lifeline to those in need are saving themselves.

A well-connected society that allows everyone to link in and participate is by definition healthier, more productive, longer-lived and better able to weather the unpredictable seas of the new century.

The Jan. 12 special meeting of the

California Broadband Council with

an unprecedented visit from high-

ranking FCC official Zachary Katz

encouraged California leaders

working to increase broadband

adoption in the Golden State.

Katz, chief of staff and chief counsel to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, outlined the federal government’s $4.5 billion effort known as the Connect America Fund (CAF) announced last November. The goal is to reach 18 million disconnected Americans by expanding access to high-speed Internet and voice services throughout the nation with more modern networks.

Council Vice-Chair Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) said reform on the federal level could open new possibilities and help bridge the broadband gap in California. State leaders have worked to advance the building of infrastructure, in

many ways ahead of other states, despite California’s vast population and diverse terrain.

“How do we not get punished for good behavior?,” Padilla said at the meeting. “The way the funding is structured, we want to make sure that California doesn’t lose out because we’ve already done all these good things where other states are catching up.”

California Emerging Technology Fund President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak said Katz’s visit to California was an exciting step for broadband expansion in the state and that officials hope the FCC recognizes the plan California has already set in place with the Broadband Council and the California Emerging Technology Fund.

Katz attended the and said the FCC will continue Phase I of the Connect America Fund and determine areas eligible for support by the end of March. California,

once at a disadvantage because of the structure of the Universal Service Fund, has a good change of receiving funding to address the 2 million Californians who do not have broadband access, according to Katz.

“California is such a leader among the states,” he said at the special meeting. “We have a lot of things we can learn from them, and we have a lot of things we will be working on together. The Connect America Fund is one of those. It’s fundamentally a state, federal partnership and so it’s great to have direct contact with folks as we think about the year ahead on out.”

Continued from page 11

California Broadband Council Vice-Chair Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima)

2 0 1 2 W i n t e r Te c h w i r e 15

Assemblymember Buchanan Proposes to Extend Flexible State IT Contracting PolicyBy Ashley Nelson

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan

(D-Alamo) recently introduced

legislation that will make the

flexible allowances for it contracts

and withholding decisions

permanent, removing a sunset

provision set to expire in 2013.

Assembly Bill 1517 Will Extend The Provision Allowing Departments To Make Individual Decisions On How Much Withholding Or Retention Should Be Made For An It Contract With State Departments And Agencies, Buchanan Said. The Current Bill Simply Removes The Sunset Provision From Law Already In Place, She Said.

“[The Bill] Gives The California Technology Agency And The Department Of General Services The Flexibility To Take A Look At The Complexity Of Contracts And Then Decide What Withholding Or Retention Should Be Written Into That Contract,” Buchanan Said.

The State Deals With Technology Contracts Related To Purchasing Computers And Equipment As Well As Consulting Contracts With Large And Small Firms, Making Some Contracts Very Complex While Others Remain Simple, According To Buchanan. The Original Legislation Was Written To

Address The One-Size-Fits-All Attitude Toward Withholding Policies Written Into It Contracts, She Said.

“The intention of the bill when

it was originally passed was

to say, ‘look we want you

to use your professional

judgment to decide the risk

associated with the contract

and then be able to assign the

[withholding] associated with

that risk...” Buchanan Said

The Law Allows For A 10 Percent Withholding On It Contracts Unless The Department Determines That The Contract Holds Less Risk Under Requirements Outlined By Law, In Which Case Contracts Of More Than $10

Million Can Withhold No Less Than 5 Percent And Contracts Of Less Than $10 Million Can Withhold No Less Than 3 Percent Of The Contract Price Until The Goods Or Services Are Delivered, According To The Bill.

Buchanan Said Ab 1517 Came Out Of A Select Hearing On It Procurement And Was Brought Up By Techamerica, Which Testified At The Hearing In November. Agreement From The California Technology Agency And The Department Of General Services That The Original Bill Is Working Supported A Push To Remove The Sunset Provision, She Said.

Techamerica Is pleased with The Bill’s Introduction, Said Carol Henton, Techamerica’s Vice President Of State And Local Government In An E-Mail.

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan speaks at TechAmerica’s 7th Annual California Technology Executive Briefing in Sacramento - September 8, 2011 Photo: Bill Foster, Techwire.net

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Constantly developing and brainstorming new solutions, such as an iPhone application and online appointment services, has been a priority within the department for years, according to Soriano.

“Our department has always taken the stance that we want to be a leader at enhancing customer service, and as such we’re really embraced Web 2.0 technology for a number of years now,” he said.

After first releasing training videos on the DMV’s YouTube channel in 2007, used by the public and driving schools, the DMV developed a mobile application in only 90 days, using staff who had enough prior knowledge to create the product, Soriano said. The DMV Now application, released in early 2010 and with more than 170,000 downloads, features instructional videos, sample tests, and, for Android users, reads text messages aloud for drivers.

“[The] DMV mobile application offers services to the public, but not anything transactional,” Soriano said. “We don’t

DMV Considers E-readers, Transactional Mobile ApplicationsBy Ashley Nelson

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a leader in mobile

technology and online accessibility amongst state agencies, will

look at making publications such as the driver’s handbook available

on e-readers as a way to further enhance customers’ experience,

department Chief Information Officer Bernard Soriano said.

have a mobile application specifically to do that, and that’s something that we are going to be certainly looking at.”

While improving technology access for the public, the department has faced challenges. Developing a presence on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter required that the department develop policies about what to publish on the sites. Choosing platforms for mobile applications, such as the Kindle or Nook for e-reader technology, has also presented challenges, he said.

The DMV will highlights its efforts during Government Mobility 2012, an event focusing on private and public-sector solutions. The department will participate in the government “Solutions Center,” sharing solutions with other state agencies working to improve mobile technology. Soriano and DMV Director George Valverde will also speak on a panel about government mobility.

In addition to presenting mobile strategy and online solutions such

appointment notifications and the virtual hold system, the DMV will present the department’s new kiosks, Soriano said. The kiosks allow customers who need in-person transactions for translation services, immediate registration stickers and cash transactions to skip the long waits and complete the transaction with a machine placed inside a DMV location.

The 35 machines in locations across the state average 100-200 renewals per day per machine, saving time and the $14 cost of each in-person transaction in field offices, said Soriano, who wants to bring a machine to the Mobility Event, although transportation might be an issue.

California Department of Motor Vehicles Chief Information Officer Bernard Soriano

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Accenture recently announced the firm has been

awarded a 9-year contract with the California

Department of Consumer Affairs to develop a

licensing and enforcement system, called BreEZe.

The system will help the department regulate

various professionals such as doctors, nurses,

dentists, contractors and cosmetologists.

“This new system will bring huge positive changes to how the California Department of Consumer Affairs serves citizens, while modernizing, simplifying and increasing the flexibility of the technology framework behind the Department’s licensing system,” said Jens Egerland, managing director of Accenture’s Health & Public Service business in California.

The new enterprise system will replace numerous disparate and outdated legacy systems. According to the announcement, BreEZe will improve back-office functionality

for the department and improve customer service for consumers and licensees.

Accenture says it will utilize the Versa Suite of commercial off-the-shelf products developed by Iron Data Solutions, Inc. Apian Consulting and Cambria Solutions will also be working as sub-contractors to Accenture on the project.

Other recent state projects led by Accenture include the California SAWS Consortium C-IV project, CalPERS Pension System Resumption project and the California Child Support Automation System.

Accenture Awarded Contract to Develop Professional Licensing System for CaliforniaBy Elise Armitage

Jens Egerland, managing director of Accenture’s Health & Public Service business in California.

The Marine Region Mobile Web Application allows the public access to marine-related information, including Marine Protected Areas, using internet-enabled mobile devices.

The Department of Transportation will be demonstrating two applications that allow the public to report problems, submit maintenance requests, or display road information based on the users’ location including traffic speed, CHP incidents, lane closure, etc.

CalVET will be demonstrating its mobile applications for California Vetrans and their families that helps them connect to their benefits and find services that will help them successfully transition from military to civilian life.

The California Technology Agency will display how it has helped departments to get their services transferred to a mobile device much faster by creating templates that allow for rapid development and deployment.

government Mobility 2012 - solution Center exhibitsContinued from page 11

The Department of Water Resources will be demonstrating a mobile worker application that allows their Dam Safety Staff to quickly and accurately collect data while out in the field.

The Franchise Tax Board will have four demonstrations including MYFTB, CalFile, Live Chat and Ready Return.

The State Board of Equalization will be demonstrating its Mobile Payment Services application that the public can access through their iPone or Android device to make payments and maintain the business and eClient accounts as well as find district offices.

State Parks will display its mobile apps that allow park visitors to access information and services through their phones in a media rich, interactive and location aware experience.

The California Technology Assistance Project will be demonstrating how they are leveraging new technologies to deliver curriculum and prepare California Students for the 21st Century.

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As low temperatures in Fresno dip into the 30s this winter, Fresno youth will spend less time waiting in the cold for a city bus thanks to a new program launched in June, according to city CIO Carolyn Hogg.

BusTracker, a partnership between nonprofit kNOw Youth Media, the city technology department, and the transportation department, will soon offer a mobile website that bus riders can access on smartphones and keep track of when buses will arrive at stops, Hogg said. Students and project leaders will present the application at the Feb. 8 Government Mobility 2012 event in Sacramento.

“The students are excited because this is really their very first trade show,” Hogg said. “They’re going to have a spot on the showroom floor in the solutions center.”

Students make up a majority of the Fresno Area Express, or FAX, ridership. The kNOw Youth Media project embraces students who are interested in community, and students concerned about the bus system contacted the city’s Department of Transportation, according to Hogg.

Currently, as part of the first phase of the project, FAX riders can submit reviews about their bus riding experiences through text messages, e-mails and ThekNOwfresno.org website. Reviews appear on the site on a map of the city, where readers can find out what other riders have experienced. The information is reported to Fresno Area Express and provided as a way for residents to communicate directly with the city.

“Phase one gave riders a voice to share their bus experiences through

a map-based reporting system. For phase two of this project, The kNOw is partnering with the City of Fresno to make BusTracker even more useful to riders, allowing them to track routes and bus locations, which will help them plan their bus trips,” said project spokesperson Anna Jacobsen.

The second phase of the project will develop the mobile application, with students involved in and learning about the development of the technology and the process of city projects, Hogg said. In turn, the city, feeling the pinch of budget cuts, gets help from students developing technology that can benefit all city residents.

“We’re partnering with this nonprofit youth organization that is so interested in their community, but we’re also providing a method to improve transportation in this city,” she said.

Fresno Youth Spearhead BusTracker Application, Learn About City Government and TechnologyBy Ashley Nelson

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