A single online site containing information about government services, federal officials' e-mail addresses, and the most-requested government forms will be created under directives announced by the Clinton administration Friday.
The mega-Web site and other electronic initiatives were introduced by Vice President Al Gore in two directives outlining technology's role for the federal government.
"As we enter the new millennium, we must use technology to unleash the full benefits of the digital age for all our citizens," Gore said.
The first memo, called the "e-government directive," asks federal agencies to look to the Web to improve citizen services. The cornerstone of this initiative, a single online access point to federal services and information, will be created because, "too often citizens have to know which agency provides a particular service or collects certain information before they can successfully target their online search," the directive said.
The Commerce Department's National Technical Information Service ran in to trouble with a plan to create a one-stop source of all government information earlier this year. NTIS pulled its sponsorship of the Web site, www.usgovsearch.com, because the site's fee-for-service structure did not mesh with government Internet policy.
The e-government initiative also seeks to eliminate the need for people to stand in lines at government offices by putting forms for the top 500 government services online by December 2000.
Harris N. Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America, said Gore's plan to make the government more accessible to citizens is right on target.
"The Internet can bring government much closer to citizens. Whether you want to renew your driver's license, get a Social Security account update, or find out where the nearest fire house is, a government portal can bring these services right to your desktop," Miller said.
Under the directive, federal leaders will be much closer to citizens, too-public e-mail addresses for all government leaders will be created so that citizens can e-mail their concerns and questions directly to agency heads.
The second executive memo, called the "directive on e-society," outlines methods to use technology to address social issues. Through the e-society directive, government will increase online educational opportunities, expand online access for people with disabilities and make access to health care easier, Gore said.
Click here for President Clinton's Dec. 17 memorandum on electronic government.
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