Wisconsin Needs to Focus on Expanding our High-Tech Economy
An open letter to Secretary of Electronic Government Rebecca Heidepriem

By Senator Ted Kanavas

Dear Secretary Heidepriem:

Congratulations on your recent appointment as our state's chief information officer and Secretary of Electronic Government. By creating this cabinet-level position, Governor McCallum has demonstrated the importance of e-commerce and technology initiatives to the state of Wisconsin.

For the last 11 years, I have been involved in the high-tech industry, as a founder of a software company, and now, as a principal in another company. It is my solemn belief that many of the productivity gains of the 1990's have been largely lost on government. As I am sure you are aware, electronic commerce in the private sector has far outpaced most governments' abilities to utilize technology for increased efficiencies.

Government is continuing to try to make laws for technology, but these laws address where technology has been, not where it is headed. This inability of our government to comprehend and plan ahead needs to addressed. Just as our state government promoted road building and transportation improvements to speed business, our government needs to clear barriers and give our high-tech infrastructure room to grow and expand.

Wisconsin's Department of Financial Institutions has been leading the way in adopting e-commerce solutions and moving toward a paper-less system of filing and record keeping. Now it is time for the rest of our state agencies to begin increasing efficiencies through technology.

I know you will have a lot on your plate in the next few weeks as you work to develop and implement a business model which will help the rest of state government communicate and interact with each other and with Wisconsin cities. But, as you form your new agency, I urge you to pay special attention to the following areas:

Broadband adoption in our state. Wisconsin is at the bottom of the list of U.S. states in terms of broadband services.

Expansion of technology education.

Slowing the brain drain of Wisconsin's best and brightest minds. We need to work to attract more high-tech businesses to expand or locate in Wisconsin.

Congratulations again! I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

TED KANAVAS

Kanavas, a Republican, is the newest state senator. He represents the 33rd Senate district in suburban Milwaukee.