October 15-16, 2000

Sun Valley, Idaho

Governor Dirk Kempthorne convened the Western High Technology Council in Sun Valley on October 15-16, 2000. Governor Jim Geringer also participated in the meeting. A list of participants is attached.

Governors Kempthorne and Geringer convened the meeting. They noted that the Western High Technology Council is a partnership that can help the region harness technology to solve problems and transform the way government serves citizens and the way government, businesses and citizens interact. The Governors are looking for ideas that can deliver results in education, healthcare and commerce. The charge for the day was to brainstorm project ideas in the three focus areas, concur on two or three projects/issues, flesh out the projects/issues, and form subcommittees to develop plans of action that will yield results that can be reported at the WGA annual meeting, August 11, 2000.

In response the group identified three critical areas for action and individuals volunteered to serve on one or more subcommittees to begin work on the issue. A quick summary of the three areas follows:

The nation continues to lag behind the developed world in producing the high quality scientists and engineers necessary to keep us in the lead in technology. Research shows that a lifelong learning model must be adopted to keep Americans productive. This model starts with early childhood learning skills. It includes developing early abilities in math, science, and problem solving; delivering a high quality formal education, and providing continuous, high quality life long learning opportunities.

Information technologies can respond to these demands but access to these technologies is limited in rural/frontier and some urban areas, a matter of great concern to western governors. While many states have invested in providing Internet access to all schools in the state, that access to affordable high speed connectivity is not generally available to other members of those communities. The problem thus becomes both one of access and one of learning content.

With respect to access, it was agreed to identify or develop a community-based, education driven model for rural and urban access in underserved areas of the West. The concept included bundling electronic delivery of public information and services, an "anchor tenant" strategy to make the connection to the community less costly, and co-locating functions and services in the school or facility on at least a retail basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This would be the first phase of an effort to make electronic access available in these same communities at reasonable cost. Co-located functions and services could range from school based health clinics to gatherings of elderly residents for continuing education and community interaction. With respect to content, the group agreed to identify or develop effective models to introduce early learners (k-4) to math and science as a long term workforce strategy. A number of corporate and public e-learning tools could be employed once access is established.

The first step in the planning process for this topic is to review available information on similar strategies, including WGA’s Centers of Excellence in Rural America (CERA) initiative and an inventory of programs developed in the private sector to address the issues of access and content. The subcommittee will meet prior to the winter meeting to flesh out this idea and prepare a preliminary plan to be presented to the governors at the WGA winter meeting November 30-December 1, 2000 in San Diego, CA.

The School/Community E-Center (Education) Subcommittee includes:

Philip Engelhardt, Mdvista; Rod Linton, State of Utah; Mark Falconer, Hewlett-Packard Company; Jim Ruda, INTUIT; Paul Russinoff, America Online; Al Cabraloff, Microsoft; Bert Wakeley, Silicon Graphics, Inc.; Jason Kreizenbeck, Micron Technology, Inc.; Bob Mendenhall, Western Governors University; Barbara Selter, Phoenix MAXIMUS; Stephen Mendonca, Compaq Computers; Diana Daggett, Intel Corporation; Governor Jim Geringer, Wyoming.

Develop and test a model for a secure, integrated, electronic health information, benefit, and service delivery system. The model would build upon WGA’s existing Health Passport and telemedicine initiatives. The model would include a patient smartcard platform, an interface to web-based electronic records management (virtual patient record), and an acceptable security system to manage access to information on the cards and in the web-based electronic records (beyond PKI, maybe biometrics). The web-based records management system could be designed so it can be more readily used for research and education in the medical field as well as for public policy and general information, while data on costs and cost avoidance could be developed for e-based solutions to low risk ailments.

The first steps in this effort include bringing the subcommittee up to speed on the Health Passport Project, adding to the subcommittee from the participating partners, and identifying sources of cost information for current treatment at emergency rooms and clinics. The subcommittee will meet prior to the winter meeting to flesh out this idea and prepare a preliminary plan for the WGA winter meeting November 30-December 1, 2000.

The Health/Card, Wireless/Web Subcommittee includes:

Philip Engelhardt, Mdvista; John Riggen, Agilent Technologies; Pat Trifunov, Glaxo Wellcome Inc.; Kathy Kavanaugh, Glaxo Wellcome Inc.; Antonio Q. Chan, M.D., Mdvista; Bert Wakeley, Silicon Graphics, Inc.; Barbara Selter, Phoenix MAXIMUS; Stephen Mendonca, Compaq Computers; Governor Jim Geringer, Wyoming.

Develop and recommend a strategy to ensure rural/frontier and underserved urban areas in the West have comparably priced wide band communications access and connectivity. This strategy is critical to our ability to deliver any customer friendly electronic services and learning.

The Subcommittee will meet prior to the winter meeting to flesh out this idea and prepare a preliminary plan for the WGA winter meeting November 30-December 1, 2000.

The Connectivity Subcommittee includes:

Steve Schafer, State of Nebraska; Philip Engelhardt, Mdvista; Ron Linton, State of Utah; Michael Stull, Wyoming Business Council; Tucker Fagan, Wyoming Business Council;

Bert Wakeley, Silicon Graphics, Inc.; Pam Ahrens, State of Idaho; Governor Jim Geringer, Wyoming.

Governor Kempthorne laid out the following expectations for the subcommittees: By the WGA Winter Meeting, November 30-December 1, each team will prepare an initial plan of action, including identifying additional partners, research needs and major action steps. The plans will be reviewed when the Council convenes at the Winter Meeting. On February 27, 2001 the teams will present more detailed implementation plans. By this time, additional partners will have been recruited and some activities will already be underway. At the WGA annual meeting, August 11 - 14, 2001, the teams will present accomplishments to date, demonstrations and other information that will help the governors and Council expand or revise the plans.

Governors Kempthorne and Geringer closed the meeting by thanking the participants for their help and willingness to embark on such an ambitious undertaking.