Personal Democracy Forum 2008
Note by Mr. Jordan Raynor:
Jonathan Adelstein - FCC Commissioner
The future of technology...
We HAVE to bring affordable broadband to everyone in America
The government must play a much larger role in leadership in the area of internet.
We do have problems in America with broadband (rural areas). That doesn't mean we give up! We can do better than we are doing right now to provide affordable internet to everyone.
The big topics of 2008 are only being talked about because we have the technology (broadband) to implement the ideas we are discussing during the Election.
Public safety - still don't have a network nationally that is connected via broadband. This is possible!
Democracy - we have never seen the participation in this country via broadband like we have with the Obama campaign.
We need a national broadband policy
Open up the government to the citizens. This is achievable because of broadband
It's not time for big media to get bigger although this has been the conversation for years.
The American people do not want big media to get bigger. Almost 99% of Americans don't want media getting bigger
The FCC stopped big media from getting bigger because of public involvement in the issue via many things but mainly a mass email campaign.
FCC needs to be more open. the website needs to be easier to navigate and more information needs to be available.
The public needs to be involved in a bottom up way.
We can use blogs and wikis to coordinate between government agencies
He sounds like he supports a Chief Technology Officer
Our policy on broadband is deregulation
We need to rely on the private sector to provide the public with the internet
Internet freedom must be kept alive.
How come their is so much activity going on online in virtual communities? Consumers love what the internet was founded on - freedom, openness, and community.
The FCC has a HUGE role to play in securing the great technology of the internet and working to ensure that the internet is accessible and affordable to everyone.
Steven Clift - Steven Clift is the founder of E-Democracy.Org, creator of the world's first election information website in 1994 and a global expert on democracy online who has given speeches across 27 countries. Today, as an Ashoka Fellow, he is expanding E-Democracy.Org's non-profit local online town hall Issues Forums in the U.S., the UK, and New Zealand. Website: e-democracy.org
Mongolia has a system that allows everyone to read EVERY single draft of EVERY single bill!
Poland has a Freedom of Information law that requires information from government to be posted online.
Estonia - Today I Decide website. This allows citizens to upload bills, suggestions. Citizens can see every piece of information the government is using regarding them.
As Americans, we need to catch up.
Government websites do not have sidewalks in America. If we can not interact within the framework of government, we are in big trouble in America.
Used to work in State Government in Minnesota.
He started e-democracy in Minnesota
Best practices are not being shared between governments across the world and the nation.
We need to think about laws to change all of this at the national and local level
Citizens need to rise up and demand that we have openness on the internet
America is number 1 at making noise and raising money online. But that is where it stops
The interest in government on the internet is also all on the national level - very little on the state and local level
Once the election is over, you have 6 months to implement internet openness.
Here's what we need:
1. Open meeting information - all public meeting information should be online.
2. All public meetings should be recorded digitally
3. Invest in e-tools for communication - Google alerts for government information sent to every citizen
4. Version of public hearings online! - this is very possible and more people can get involved.
5. More projects like the open House project
6. Connect with interventionists - if you want to change democracy for everyone
Millions of people are becoming fundamentally interactive online. Government must step-up and come to us online.
The government must be able to work better for us on the web!
Sheila Campbell - Sheila Campbell is Manager of USA.gov Web Best Practices at the U.S. General Services Administration, whose mission is to dramatically improve government online communications. Her team advocates for citizen-centric web content by providing training, a web best practices clearinghouse, collaboration tools, and advocacy for over 1,400 federal, state, and local web managers. Website: USA.gov.
What is the government doing to transform the internet?
USA.gov - official web-portal for the U.S. government
They offer:
1. RSS Feeds
2. Mobile version
3. Live chat
4. Email updates
In the future they want the information personalized and sent to them via the internet (community news, when drivers license expires, tax return status, etc...) E-communication from the gov't would be personal
Agency websites have prominent picture of secretary and tons and tons of text.
The reason for this is government websites are an extension of campaign sites in that it is just a PR tool
Citizens want online:
1. To get a passport
2. Apply for business loan
3. Find affordable housing
4. Reduce energy cost
5. Get a government job
USA.gov wants to model site after Southwest.com. Front page gives you the 4 main things most people want to know.
IRS website does a good job of this
USAJOBS is a good example of content aggregation
TSA did a great job in getting feedback from fliers
Virginia.gov has an impressive YouTube channel
USA.gov vision:
- Help people complete common tasks efficiently
- Engage citizens
- Get rid of "R.O.T."
- Deliver the same answers via multiple channels of government
- Ensure access to underserved populations
What can the next administration deliver?
- Web as strategic asset
- Leaders who will engage and trust the public
- Focus on communications - not just technology
- Funding tied to performance
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS:
How do we connect to government better?
Sheila: there are multiple channels for engagement. Surveys are one way but the problem with surveys is they are one way. Starbucks and Dell have a good model where it is a two-way street of communication that EVERYONE can see
Jonathan: blogs and wikis to communicate with elected officials are a great way to increase communication. Elected and appointed officials need to be willing to be open to the public.
Steven: citizens can drive things by discussing things within the context of government. We can drive the conversation and government will have to pay attention.
The future of technology...
We HAVE to bring affordable broadband to everyone in America
The government must play a much larger role in leadership in the area of internet.
We do have problems in America with broadband (rural areas). That doesn't mean we give up! We can do better than we are doing right now to provide affordable internet to everyone.
The big topics of 2008 are only being talked about because we have the technology (broadband) to implement the ideas we are discussing during the Election.
Public safety - still don't have a network nationally that is connected via broadband. This is possible!
Democracy - we have never seen the participation in this country via broadband like we have with the Obama campaign.
We need a national broadband policy
Open up the government to the citizens. This is achievable because of broadband
It's not time for big media to get bigger although this has been the conversation for years.
The American people do not want big media to get bigger. Almost 99% of Americans don't want media getting bigger
The FCC stopped big media from getting bigger because of public involvement in the issue via many things but mainly a mass email campaign.
FCC needs to be more open. the website needs to be easier to navigate and more information needs to be available.
The public needs to be involved in a bottom up way.
We can use blogs and wikis to coordinate between government agencies
He sounds like he supports a Chief Technology Officer
Our policy on broadband is deregulation
We need to rely on the private sector to provide the public with the internet
Internet freedom must be kept alive.
How come their is so much activity going on online in virtual communities? Consumers love what the internet was founded on - freedom, openness, and community.
The FCC has a HUGE role to play in securing the great technology of the internet and working to ensure that the internet is accessible and affordable to everyone.
Steven Clift - Steven Clift is the founder of E-Democracy.Org, creator of the world's first election information website in 1994 and a global expert on democracy online who has given speeches across 27 countries. Today, as an Ashoka Fellow, he is expanding E-Democracy.Org's non-profit local online town hall Issues Forums in the U.S., the UK, and New Zealand. Website: e-democracy.org
Mongolia has a system that allows everyone to read EVERY single draft of EVERY single bill!
Poland has a Freedom of Information law that requires information from government to be posted online.
Estonia - Today I Decide website. This allows citizens to upload bills, suggestions. Citizens can see every piece of information the government is using regarding them.
As Americans, we need to catch up.
Government websites do not have sidewalks in America. If we can not interact within the framework of government, we are in big trouble in America.
Used to work in State Government in Minnesota.
He started e-democracy in Minnesota
Best practices are not being shared between governments across the world and the nation.
We need to think about laws to change all of this at the national and local level
Citizens need to rise up and demand that we have openness on the internet
America is number 1 at making noise and raising money online. But that is where it stops
The interest in government on the internet is also all on the national level - very little on the state and local level
Once the election is over, you have 6 months to implement internet openness.
Here's what we need:
1. Open meeting information - all public meeting information should be online.
2. All public meetings should be recorded digitally
3. Invest in e-tools for communication - Google alerts for government information sent to every citizen
4. Version of public hearings online! - this is very possible and more people can get involved.
5. More projects like the open House project
6. Connect with interventionists - if you want to change democracy for everyone
Millions of people are becoming fundamentally interactive online. Government must step-up and come to us online.
The government must be able to work better for us on the web!
Sheila Campbell - Sheila Campbell is Manager of USA.gov Web Best Practices at the U.S. General Services Administration, whose mission is to dramatically improve government online communications. Her team advocates for citizen-centric web content by providing training, a web best practices clearinghouse, collaboration tools, and advocacy for over 1,400 federal, state, and local web managers. Website: USA.gov.
What is the government doing to transform the internet?
USA.gov - official web-portal for the U.S. government
They offer:
1. RSS Feeds
2. Mobile version
3. Live chat
4. Email updates
In the future they want the information personalized and sent to them via the internet (community news, when drivers license expires, tax return status, etc...) E-communication from the gov't would be personal
Agency websites have prominent picture of secretary and tons and tons of text.
The reason for this is government websites are an extension of campaign sites in that it is just a PR tool
Citizens want online:
1. To get a passport
2. Apply for business loan
3. Find affordable housing
4. Reduce energy cost
5. Get a government job
USA.gov wants to model site after Southwest.com. Front page gives you the 4 main things most people want to know.
IRS website does a good job of this
USAJOBS is a good example of content aggregation
TSA did a great job in getting feedback from fliers
Virginia.gov has an impressive YouTube channel
USA.gov vision:
- Help people complete common tasks efficiently
- Engage citizens
- Get rid of "R.O.T."
- Deliver the same answers via multiple channels of government
- Ensure access to underserved populations
What can the next administration deliver?
- Web as strategic asset
- Leaders who will engage and trust the public
- Focus on communications - not just technology
- Funding tied to performance
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS:
How do we connect to government better?
Sheila: there are multiple channels for engagement. Surveys are one way but the problem with surveys is they are one way. Starbucks and Dell have a good model where it is a two-way street of communication that EVERYONE can see
Jonathan: blogs and wikis to communicate with elected officials are a great way to increase communication. Elected and appointed officials need to be willing to be open to the public.
Steven: citizens can drive things by discussing things within the context of government. We can drive the conversation and government will have to pay attention.
