Approved:       February 7, 2007        

Date

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Morrison at 3:30 P.M. on February 5, 2007, in Room 526-S of the Capitol.

All members were present except Representatives Tafanelli, Siegfreid, Kelley, and Holland, all of whom were excused.

Committee staff present:

Mary Galligan, Kansas Legislative Research

Tatiana Lin, Kansas Legislative Research

Renae Jefferies, Office of Revisor of Statutes

Gary Deeter, Committee Assistant

Conferees appearing before the committee:

Nelson Krueger, former Director, The Kansas Telecommunications Consortium

Others attending:

See attached list.

The minutes for January 29 and 30 were approved. (Motion, Representative Loganbill; second, Representative Wilk)

Nelson Krueger, former Director, Kansas Telecommunications Consortium, briefed the Committee on the recent history of telecommunications in state government, commenting on the formation of the telecommunications consortium in the 1990s, tracing the development of broadband networks, and offering a glimpse of the future (Attachment 1, Executive Summary). (The entire document is on file at the Committee website: http://www.kslegislature.org/committeeminutes/07-08/house/hGovTech/h_govTech.shtml.)

Mr. Krueger noted the creation of the Information and Telecommunication Technology Center at the University of Kansas and the beginning of video-conferencing, the launching of the Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DISC) under the Kansas Department of Administration (1980), and the participation of the Kansas Board of Regents. He stated that the information age arrived in Kansas with Pioneer Telephone creating interactive classrooms using fiber-optic cable.

Referencing the second section of the book, Mr. Kruger traced the public-private partnership of Kansas Department of Transportation and LightCore in building a fiber-optic pathway through Kansas. He demonstrated the broadband capacity of fiber optics, comparing a 3.5-inch floppy drive with CDs, DVDs, copper telephone wire bundles, and tiny fiber-optic strands. He commented on the three networks currently used by state government in Kansas: the Kansas Wide-Area Network (KANWIN), the Kansas Research and Education Network (KANREN), and the more recent development of the KAN-Ed network, a broadband connection to K-12 schools, hospitals, and libraries. He noted funding mechanisms for KAN-Ed, stating that a report analyzing the status of KAN-Ed is due March 1, 2007. He traced the membership of ITEC (Information Technology Executive Council), the Information Network of Kansas (INK), and the Information Technology Advisory Board (ITAB).

Looking toward the future (third section), Mr. Krueger listed several initiatives to expand broadband services: AT&T’s U-Verse, Verizon’s FiOS, cable, satellite, and electric companies’ expansion of services, and the exponential deployment of wireless service possible through Wi-Max.

Answering questions, Mr. Krueger said cell phones use physical cell towers to relay information, noting that telecommunications companies experimented with low-level satellites, but abandoned the project about 5 years ago when transmission-delay problems were unacceptable. He replied that there is always room for increased collaboration among agencies; however, he cautioned that restricting projects to a single model may also restrict innovation. He explained that agencies sometimes create systems disparate from one another in order to meet different federal strictures.

Members expressed concern regarding deployment of broadband in rural areas, seeking incentives to cause ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to deploy ubiquitous services. Mr. Krueger said the most hopeful prospect for rural deployment is Wi-Max.

Denise Moore, Executive Chief Information Technology Officer, mentioned the study due on March 1, which should offer recommendations on how to increase deployment of IT and what barriers need to be overcome.

John Federico, Executive Director, Kansas Cable Telecom Association, commented that rural deployment vexes ISPs; he noted that Eagle Communication, Hays, uses a variety of systems: cable modems, wireless, and partnerships with rural telecoms. He suggested that Eagle might be a resource for the Committee. Representative Sloan recommended that Sunflower Broadband, Lawrence, also be considered.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2007.