When the White House released its Open Government Directive December 8, it challenged federal agencies to find ways to increase meaningful interactions with the public - and do it in a hurry. The Obama Administration is committed to reshaping the federal government to align with three core values: transparency, participation and collaboration.

The GSA Office of Citizen Services (OCS) is answering the call by formulating a New Media and Citizen Engagement Program that will assist federal agencies in their efforts to effectively interact with the public.

The Program's mission is to provide a repository of practices and approaches for effective collaboration and engagement, and point agencies to web-based IT solutions that can foster productive public dialogs and other forms of public engagement. The intent is to help build agencies' capabilities to create open, transparent and participatory government, and leverage knowledge and tools across the government.

For example, OCS will help identify, demonstrate and host new online tools, such as blogs, wikis, forums and other social media solutions to conduct effective dialogs, challenges and ongoing collaboration designed to better connect government with citizens.

Our three-pronged approach will (1) build the capability of federal employees to engage citizens in a participative and open government by assembling training, checklists and other information, community support and other assistance; (2) provide tips, analysis and choices of no-cost engagement tools and provide potential contract vehicles for commercial products and services; and (3) assist agencies in preparing for and conducting online citizen dialogs and other engagements.

The Program will offer several key benefits for federal agencies seeking help in meeting the President's Open Government Directive:

• Increased awareness and usage of common types of online engagement tools that meet federal requirements (e.g., legal terms of service, security and accessibility)
• Ability to share and leverage open source and product experiences across government
• Access to expertise, lessons-learned, best practices, case studies and "how-tos"
• Valuable savings in agencies' resources (both time and financial) when planning and conducting online engagements
• Institutionalizing a new culture of engagement in the federal government.

Our bottom-line goal is to provide agile technologies and engaging experiences for citizen-to-government interactions that achieve unprecedented transparency and build innovative solutions for more effective, citizen-driven government.

Dave McClure is Associate Administrator for the GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications, home to USA.gov, Intergovernmental Solutions and federal consumer publications. Dave's column will appear monthly in The DotGov Buzz to keep the IT community informed of developments in the implementation of open government and innovation.

Long-time fed and Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Information, Linda Travers has spent most of her nearly 40 years at the agency preparing for her role in bringing the Data.gov project to life and implementing the President's Open Government Directive. Travers was Acting CIO of the Environmental Information office until the end of November.

A Maryland native, Travers is a "charter member" of EPA, meaning she has been working at the agency since it was created in 1970 in response to an insistent public demand for more government action to protect and defend the environment.

She has a master's in Public Administration from American University that she received while working at EPA. Travers always intended to enter government service; her grandfather, father sister, aunts and uncles all had good careers in government. Public service "was something of a tradition in our family."

In 1988, Travers worked on EPA's "first public access program" that made public data on chemicals released into the environment. The initial data collection resulted in 100,000 paper reports, which, she said, took almost a year to sort out. "It was quite a challenge in the '80s -- before the Internet -- to get this information to the public." But as the years went on and technology improved, the program became more efficient. Now under Travers' eye, the Office of Environmental Information collects data in July, making that data public in roughly 60 days. "It's amazing the difference the Internet has made in making information available to people," she says.

Harnessing the speed of the Internet has been crucial to the success of Data.gov, where agencies are required to upload data for public consumption that is easy to find, download and use. Travers was tapped to co-chair the Federal CIO Council's group that helped launch Data.gov.

Data.gov was launched on May 21, the same day the White House invited the public to help shape its Open Government Directive, which was released December 8. "We (Data.gov) started out pretty small with less than 50 data sets. Now we have 118,000 sets," Travers says. That number is sure to rise rapidly, as the Open Government Directive requires agencies to upload three high-value data sets to Data.gov within 45 days. The day the directive was announced, 100 additional data sets were published on Data.gov, Travers says.

A primary goal of Data.gov is to improve access to federal data and expand creative use of those data beyond the walls of government by encouraging innovative ideas such as web applications. The openness derived from Data.gov will promote efficiency and effectiveness in government. The Data.gov team has been tweaking the site since May, and coordinating with 250 points-of-contact at the agencies to make more data available. They have been working on a Concept of Operations document and invited public input via an online dialogue. "We want to engage the public to help us figure out what Data.gov should look like in July 2010," she says.

Travers will help EPA comply with the Open Government Directive by getting more of her agency's data sets registered on Data.gov, launching EPA's new open government site and helping develop the agency's open government plan. But, these requirements don't seem daunting to Travers as she's been working on EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's own transparency, collaboration and participation initiatives since Jackson was sworn-in on January 26. "We're very excited about the Open Government Directive," Travers said. "It fits very nicely with the initiatives we've already been working on."

On Earth Day, April 22, Linda Travers' office launched the 'MyEnvironment,' tool on the agency's homepage. It allows citizens to enter a zip code and receive basic environmental information about their area, from air quality to stream flow. "This is something we're really proud of," Travers says. The public must also find it useful because the agency's metrics revealed that the tool is the "second-most important piece of real estate on the homepage," she adds. "It's an example of trying to bring environmental information to the public to help them with their decision-making."

EPA has actively been using social media tools to get the public more involved. During Administrator Jackson's major announcement on air emissions on December 7, video of the event was streamed live on its web site and Facebook page, and at the same time EPA tweeted about it. It was a relief to Travers that everything worked and a "good example of how social media tools will be used to make announcements."

EPA is also looking at the opportunities mobile applications can provide for reaching even more of the public. "One example could be creating a UV Index mobile app that would allow you to check UV conditions and take appropriate steps to protect yourself from overexposure to the sun," Travers says.

Besides using social media to interact with the public, EPA is also adapting those tools for internal use, e.g., a professional networking tool for employees, like NASA's Spacebook, that would allow employees to create profiles showcasing their expertise in different areas. Travers hopes it will increase collaboration among employees working in different locations across the country.

Travers' long career at EPA has allowed her to work in a variety of different mission-critical offices, but she likes the CIO's office because it was established, in 1999, to collect and manage information and make it accessible to the public. "We have the full responsibility of information management that I think helps us have an equal seat at the table at the highest level of the agency," she says.

The administration released three documents on December 8 that shed light on its open government initiative. OMB's Open Government Directive, gives agencies steps to create a government that is more transparent, participatory and collaborative. Recommendations from the Federal CTO and comments from the public helped shape the directive.

The directive outlines four areas agencies need to improve upon to make government more open:

1. Publish government information online - Agencies have 45 days to identify and publish three high-value data sets, not previously available online, and register them via Data.gov. Agencies have 60 days to create an Open Government web page, where the agency will respond to public input.
   
   The directive asked agencies to publish information in a format that can be retrieved, downloaded, indexed and searched by commonly-used web searching applications. Agencies are requested to reduce Freedom of Information requests by 10% each year and publish annual Freedom of Information Act Reports on the Open Government sites.



2. Improve quality of government information - Agencies have 45 days to designate a high-level senior official to be accountable for the quality of her agency's public federal spending information. This official shall participate in the agency's Senior Management Council.
   
   In 60 days, OMB will issue a framework for the quality of federal spending data that is made public. In 120 days, OMB will issue a strategy that identifies how agencies will report quarterly progress.



3. Create and institutionalize a culture of open government - Agencies have 120 days to develop and publish an Open Government Plan that will detail how it will improve transparency and integrate public participation and collaboration into its activities.
   
   In 60 days the Federal CIO and CTO will publish an Open Government Dashboard that will show the progress agencies have made in becoming more transparent. In 45 days, OMB, the Federal CIO and CTO will establish a working group to promote transparency, accountability, participation and collaboration within the federal government.
   
   Within 90 days, OMB will give agencies instructions on using challenges, prizes and other incentives to find cost-effective solutions for improving open government.



4. Create an enabling policy framework for open government. - Within 120 days, OMB policies, such as the Paperwork Reduction Act, will be reviewed and possibly revised to make it easier for agencies to comply with the Open Government Directive.

The Open Government Progress Report describes what actions the federal government has taken so far to become more transparent, explains the Open Government Directive and lists a few open government initiatives that are being developed.

The Open Government Cabinet Commitments lists what the federal agencies are doing to become more transparent and accountable to the public.

The White House also issued a list of Open Government Milestones in 2009 in the three areas of transparency, participation and collaboration that include:

• The Departments of Agriculture and Commerce launching BroadbandUSA.gov, which is a streamlined online application for broadband initiatives under the Recovery Act.



• The Federal Communications Commission launching OpenInternet.gov and attracting more than 20,000 people to comment on the future of the Internet.



• The General Services Administration launching Apps.gov.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented his plan for delivering better public services for lower cost to Parliament on December 7. Putting The Frontline First: Smarter Government outlines how the government will strengthen the role of citizens and streamline the central government.

The Plan will help redirect power from the central government to citizens and public servants, which will create a leaner central government where back office functions are merged, staff is relocated and costs are reduced.

Proposals in the plan will save the government £12 billion a year. Specific actions in the Plan include:

• Rolling out a 'Tell Us Once' program that lets citizens notify government only once for any birth or death



• Radically opening up data and public information, releasing thousands of public data sets, and more detailed departmental spending data and making them free for re-use



• Publishing public services performance data online by 2011, starting in 2010 with more detailed data on crime patterns, costs of hospital procedures and parts of the National Pupil Database.

Australia's Government 2.0 Taskforce published a draft report on government Web 2.0 practices. The Taskforce is composed of representatives from government, business, academia and cultural institutions. The report was sent to the Australian government December 16.

The Taskforce called on the government to make an 'Open Government Declaration' that states:

• Public sector information is a national resource and releasing much of it will maximize its economic and social value and reinforce a healthy democracy



• Government will become more consultative, participatory and transparent by using technology to increase collaboration in policy-making and providing services



• Public servants should be encouraged to engage online; professional discussion benefits their own development, their agencies and the Australian public.

"The fulfilment of the above at all levels of government is integral to the Government's objectives including public sector reform, innovation and utilising the national investment in broadband to achieve an informed, connected and democratic community," the Taskforce concluded.

GSA's Web Manager University's new semester begins January 11 and features 14 online and in-person training classes. Registration and final course descriptions are available online. The classes are open to both government and non-government employees, unless noted otherwise. Details on the free New Media Talks related to social media and citizen engagement will be available soon.

Federal agencies are now required to track and report recipients of Recovery Act funds who do not publish required reports in a timely manner, according to an OMB memo. Agencies had to provide OMB with a list of these recipients by December 4 and will have to devise a strategy to contact the negligent recipients.

If these non-compliant recipients are found to be persistently late or negligent, their stimulus funding could be terminated or they could be barred from receiving federal funds in the future.

Beginning with the next reporting period in January, recipients that are negligent for two or more successive quarters could be referred to the federal agency officials in charge of criminal investigations.

The Vice President announced a nearly $183 million investment in 18 broadband projects that benefit 17 states on December 17. This initial investment is part of a $7.2 billion Recovery Act broadband grant and loan program that will expand broadband access and adoption across the country.

Four types of awards were announced:

• Middle Mile Awards - $121.6 million to build and improve connections to communities lacking sufficient broadband access



• Last Mile Awards - $51.4 million to connect end users like homes, hospitals and schools to their community's broadband infrastructure (the middle mile)



• Public Computing - $7.3 million to expand computer center capacity for public use in libraries, community colleges and other public venues



• Sustainable Adoption - $2.4 million to fund innovative projects that promote broadband demand with population groups where the technology has traditionally been underutilized.

Fifteen communities across the country will be selected to receive Recovery Act grants that will build and strengthen their health IT infrastructure and health information exchange capabilities, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The $235 million 'Beacon Community Program' is funded with $220 million in grants for infrastructure and $15 million for technical assistance to the communities.

Communities will be chosen based on their level of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange capabilities. To qualify, applicants are expected to:

• Build off of existing health IT infrastructure and exchange to demonstrate care and cost savings



• Have rates of HER adoption that are significantly higher than published national estimates; and



• Coordinate with recently announced Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) programs for Regional Extension Centers and State Health Information Exchange to develop and disseminate best practices for adoption and meaningful use of EHRs to support national goals for widespread use of health IT.

The number of adults aged 34 and older who belong social networks increased 60% over last year, according to a Forrester study of 4,766 American adults in May 2009. The Broad Reach of Social Technologies also found nearly all young adults 18 to 34 years old are socially active. Only 3% of the 18 to 24 year olds and 10% of adults 25 to 34 are not online.

More people joined social networks during 2009 than did in 2008, which is thought to be caused by the swell of adults 35 to 44 using social media tools. Since 2007, the number of adults that don't participate in online activities has decreased to 18% from 44%.

Nancy Fichtner, a Colorado Veterans Affairs (VA) employee, was named the winner of the President's SAVE Award contest that challenged federal employees to submit and vote on cost-saving ideas that could be easily implemented.

Fichtner proposed that when veterans are discharged from VA hospitals, they should be able to take unused doses of their medicine with them. Currently the hospitals are throwing away this extra medicine, Fichtner says.

More than 38,000 ideas were submitted by federal employees during the contest. Fichtner's idea made the "final four." The public was asked to choose the winner by voting online and Fichtner's idea received the most votes out of the 84,670 cast. Her idea will be included in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, and she will get to meet the President and present her idea to him.

Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2010. Seven local, four state and one federal government IT official made the magazine's annual list. They are:

• Bill Schrier - CIO, Seattle" Bill Schrier - CIO, Seattle
• Dan Lohrmann - CTO, Michigan
• Paul Cosgrave - CIO, New York City
• Dominic Nessi - CIO, Los Angeles World Airports
• Roy Mentkow - Technology Director, Roanoke, Virginia
• David W. Taylor - CIO, Florida
• Phyllis Koch - Director of IT Services and Geographical Information Systems, Boynton Beach, Florida
• Deborah Lindell - CIO, Delaware Department of Correction
• Robert Beach - IT Services Director, Seminole County, Florida
• Daniel Chan, CIO, New York State's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• Lawrence DiGioia - Information Services Director, Altamonte Springs, Florida
• John Garing - Director for Strategic Planning and Information - Defense Information Systems Agency

European eGovernment Awards. The 2009 eGovernment Awards were presented to five countries at the November eGovernment Ministerial Conference in Malmo, Sweden.

The categories and winners are:

• eGovernment Supporting the Single Market - Austria and Germany for The European Order for Payment Application - EU-OPA



• eGovernment Empowering Citizens - Denmark for Genvej



• eGovernment Empowering Businesses - Italy for The Italian Public Administration eMarketplace - MEPA



• eGovernment Enabling Administrative Efficiency and Effectiveness - Portugal for Licensing of Hunters via the "Multibanco" ATM Network - AFN/MB

Excellence.gov Awards. The American Council for Technology and the Industry Advisory Council (ACT/IAC) is accepting nominations until January 8, 2010, for its Excellence.gov Awards.

2010 National Technology Champion Award. The National Association of State Chief Information Officers is accepting nominations for its National Technology Champion until January 20, 2010.

Service to America Medals. The Partnership for Public Service is accepting nominations for its Service to America Medals until January 29, 2010.

Also available in pdf 96.2 kb

Web Manager University's Acquia/Drupal for Government
Online
January 11, 2010

Department of the Navy's IT 2010 West Coast Conference
San Diego, CA
February 1-4, 2010

AFCEA/U.S. Naval Institute's West 2010 Conference and Exposition
San Diego, CA
February 2-4, 2010

ACT/IAC Small Business Conference
Arlington, VA
February 10, 2010

GITEC SUMMIT 2010
Orlando, FL
March 7-10, 2010

FOSE 2010
Washington, DC
March 23-25, 2010

IRMCO
Cambridge, MD
April 11-14, 2010

NASCIO's 2010 Midyear Conference
Baltimore, MD
April 28-30, 2010

Web Manager University's 2-Day Conference: Open Government & Citizen Engagement
Washington, DC
April 27-28

ACT/IAC Management of Change Conference
Philadelphia, PA
May 23-25, 2010

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Please send your comments, concerns, complaints and questions to dotgovbuzz@gsa.gov.

Check out our previous editions at http://www.usa.gov/dotgovbuzz.html. The DotGov Buzz is produced by the following individuals in the GSA Office of Citizen Services and Communications:

Darlene Meskell
Andrea Noce Sigritz
Bryant Jones.