Author Archive
Chris Teale
People
Leading presidential scholar urges government leaders to be curious, empathetic
Jon Meacham said in a speech that while AI “is going to be more important than the Industrial Revolution,” local governments must work to rebuild trust in these fraught times.
Digital Government
Schools, libraries say E-Rate’s ‘ongoing’ work should continue
In comments filed with the FCC, hundreds of school districts and libraries said the program is vital, and tweaking it would blow holes in local budgets that would be impossible to plug.
Artificial Intelligence
How one city balances its economy and community needs on data centers
Colorado Springs, Colorado wants to bring in data centers but do so in a way that’s transparent and protects quality of life. Being proactive is crucial, an economic development leader there said.
Digital Government
Utah tech leader reflects on his dual HR role and modernization
Brock Arnold manages both human resources and IT for Roosevelt in the northeast of the state, and took “antiquated” systems that reduced payroll from a three-day task to three hours.
People
Florida region’s ‘digital ecosystem’ looks to help it compete in economic development
Tallahassee has struggled in recent times to tell its story, the head of its chamber of commerce said, and various online portals will help it seize control of the narrative.
Cybersecurity
New partnership formed to share cyber threat intel with water utilities
The Water Information Sharing and Advisory Center partnered with Cyware to provide intelligence and what officials called a “collective defense” in the face of growing threats.
Digital Government
‘Trust issue’ means states will keep regulating privacy, lawmaker says
Opponents of state action have called for Congress to pass a national data privacy law, which has been unsuccessful so far. Residents are scared of tech and AI and want help, a Virginia delegate argued.
People
Former state official reflects on tech’s role in uplifting residents
Ivy Teng Lei, California’s first chief digital strategy officer, implemented personal data controls and easier vital records requests during her time in the role. She said her background helped prepare her for what lay ahead.
Customer Experience
Tech ‘isn’t the hard part’ in digital experience, local leaders say
Instead, speakers on a recent webinar explained that resident communication and ensuring a good feedback loop with elected officials are crucial when modernizing services.
Artificial Intelligence
Governors take major actions on AI
An executive order by California Gov. Gavin Newsom looks to boost oversight of the tech, while Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s order tightens data center standards.
Artificial Intelligence
Do data centers need a ‘national strategy that puts communities first’?
The House passed a bill to mandate that state regulators have a strategy to have large consumers pay for their own power. But plenty of work lies ahead.
Featured eBooks
Digital Government
BEAD’s job is both ‘easier’ and ‘harder’ amid funds release, research finds
States will soon be able to connect unserved locations, but several reports warned that a lot of hard work remains ahead to truly close the digital divide.
Cybersecurity
Money worries weigh on critical infrastructure amid growing cyber threats, report finds
A joint study found that while almost all state tech leaders are worried about cyberattacks, they lack the funding to protect some of these crucial systems.
People
‘We're all just trying to help,’ local Service to the Citizen winner says
Crystal Sprague, the director of innovation and performance in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said her Service to the Citizen honor comes amid massive upheaval and change.
Cybersecurity
How cyber ranges can help build trust in AI
The public and private sectors are turning more and more to closed environments to help prepare for a cyberattack. Experts said they can also build an understanding of AI and its capabilities.
Digital Government
States can spend leftover BEAD funds to connect missed locations, NTIA says
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration said states can use at least some of the remaining $21 billion for anywhere still unserved by broadband.
Emerging Tech
Mobile IDs are an ‘easy sell,’ but state leaders urge more education
More than 20 states now accept mobile driver’s licenses but there is relatively low uptake among residents.
Emerging Tech
How tech can help localities solve weather gaps
National Weather Service radars may miss storms or other incidents, but now local governments are investing in their own equipment to supplement those federal tools.
Artificial Intelligence
New AI center announced for St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis AI Innovation Center looks to position the city and the surrounding region as a hub for the technology with computing power and other resources.
Artificial Intelligence
Data centers are Americans’ least favored development, poll finds
The survey from Public First and ITIF found that 46% oppose data centers in their communities, compared to 26% who support, far behind other projects.
