State's digital IQ is, um, average

Washington state is No.1. Oregon is No.4. Arizona is No.6. Pre-season rankings for the Pac Ten? Not this time. These are among the top-ranked states in The Digital State, an interesting new survey showing how the 50 state governments are using digital technologies to improve their operations, including electronic access by citizens.

The Internet and other digital technologies are transforming the way citizens can interact with the state, and vice versa. Examples: Using the Internet to attend college lectures and even complete a degree program through teleconferencing, to monitor the status of state legislation, and to ask and receive answers to specific tax or regulatory questions.

The rest among the top 10 in overall rankings are, in order, Wisconsin (No.2), Florida (No.3), Maryland (No.5), Indiana (No.7), New Jersey (No.8), Missouri (No.9) and Michigan (No.10). Colorado ranked No.24, in the middle of the pack.

The revolution in telecomputing--including computers, software, telecommunications and networks--is changing everything about the way we live, work, play, learn and move around. This new report by the Washington, D.C.-based Progress & Freedom Foundation -- and the IBM Institute for Electronic Government -- tells us a lot about the impact of telecomputing applications in eight different arenas of government, scoring each on a scale from 0 to 100 (top score).

Digital democracy: Using Web sites and other digital technology, largely through the Internet, to permit improved citizen access to laws, legislators and the democratic process. Alaska (92 points) is first here with a Web site that includes profiles of and e-mail links to all legislators and to the governor and his staff.

Higher education: Using the Internet and other digital technologies, for distance learning and communication and for administrative functions such as enrollment applications and student loans. Indiana is No. 1 with 80 points. Example: Indiana University boasts five degrees that can be earned entirely through distance learning.

Elementary and secondary education: Using digital technologies to enhance learning opportunities in grades K-12, including access to computers and to the Internet. Arizona, a strong school choice state (tied with Georgia for No. 1 with 89 points) offers a superlativereport card on each school (rating curriculum, attendance rates, honors programs, etc.) that can be accessed by anyone at www.ade.state.az.us/reportcards.

Business regulation: Availability of regulations, forms, on-line assistance and the ability to actually submit required "paperwork" using the Internet or in digital form. Though some states, led by Arizona (75 points) and Oregon (67 points) in the West, are making some progress, most are not -- and nine states earned "zero" ratings.

Taxation: Using digital technologies to store and retrieve taxpayer information, and the ability for taxpayers to obtain information, submit returns or correspond with revenue authorities on-line. Maryland (93 points) is No.1 with tax assistance and hot links to a Web site where tax forms can be downloaded. Digital filing is also facilitated.

Social services: Use of electronic benefits transfer and "smart cards" for benefits delivery, and the availability of on-line information regarding eligibility and applications forms. Oklahoma (58 points) is the leader here, though all 50 states score poorly and 44 score below 50.

Law enforcement and the courts: Use of digital technologies for on-line access to court opinions, use of digital communications by police agencies and the presence or absence of "digital signature" capability for contracts and filings. Washington (73 points) leads here.

The PFF study also included a general purpose category to measure ongoing efforts in state government to plan or otherwise prepare for new developments in information technology and to encourage state employees and agencies to get connected. Utah and Washington tied for first, each garnering a perfect 100. But 45 states scored above 50, suggesting that next year's annual report will look very different from this year's.