12-18-2009     Send a link     Topics:  Council Leadership  Web Management & E-Government     Print version

To recognize innovative efforts in digital governance, the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark held an online “virtual” awards ceremony on Tuesday, August 24, 2010.

The 2010 E-Government Web Portal Excellence Award is based upon the Rutgers E-Government Performance Index. A research study utilizing that index was conducted jointly by the E-Governance Institute at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark and the Global e-Policy e-Government Institute at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea.

Co-sponsored by PTI, the study listed these cities among the top five in digital governance: Seoul, Prague, Hong Kong, New York and Singapore.

You can read a summary of the findings at this link and view the ceremony at this link.

08-26-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Web Management & E-Government  Municipal E-Government     Print version

The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) interposes a central FEMA facility between emergency alert originators such as local governments, and wireless providers (CMSPs) who forward the messages to citizens’ mobile devices.

Key materials concerning CMAS and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) are on the FCC website at this link.

Text of FCC Report and Order Establishing CMAS [PDF]
This document prescribes the coverage area and specifications of CMAS alerts, and addresses commenters who filed questions and objections to the CMAS proposal.

FEMA Letter to FCC [PDF]
This February 2008 letter from FEMA to the FCC explains that FEMA does not have statutory authority “during non-emergency periods to develop, implement, operate or maintain elements of the CMAS that regard alerts, warnings or notifications originated by State and Local authorities.” The agency asked the FCC to delay CMAS until such legal issues are resolved.

FEMA Takes Aggregator/Gateway Role for Nationwide Alert System
After declining to become the central gatekeeper for emergency alerts to wireless customers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reversed position and will accept this role.

IPAWS Page of the FEMA National Continuity Program Directorate

CMAS Forum

08-11-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Web Management & E-Government  Public Safety Technology     Print version

by PTI Executive Director Alan Shark

Business intelligence from Web 2.0 applications can deliver strategic information, but are local governments using the information they collect effectively?

As more city and county governments experiment with better engaging residents and driving them to their central websites, many are asking how well the technology is delivering on its promise.

Read more at American City & County

08-06-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Chief Information Officers (CIOs)  Web Management & E-Government     Print version

Rutgers Global E-Governance Survey Ranks Seoul #1

View the online awards ceremony at this link.

A global survey of city websites has identified Seoul, South Korea, as the top-ranked city in the performance of municipal e-government. The survey evaluated sites of municipalities worldwide in terms of privacy, usability, content, service and citizen participation and ranked the cities on a global scale.

Read more    07-14-2010

PTI is embarking on a year-long research project to develop best practices in the field of Web 2.0 and civic/social networking and citizen engagement in local and state government.

The project will culminate in a Web 2.0 State & Local Government Awards & Recognition Program that will include a virtual “Gallery of Excellence” in citizen engagement.

Read more    07-01-2010

In June 2010 PTI conducted an online survey of city and county officials to determine if local governments are using web 2.0 metrics and business intelligence practices using the data generated through their web portal and residents’ smartphone devices.

That data produces potentially useful key performance indicators (KPIs) and more.

Members: Read more    06-29-2010

Table of Contents     Author Biographies

To help local governments navigate the path through eGovernment implementation towards enhanced citizen engagement, Public Technology Institute (PTI) and ITEMS International introduce Beyond eGovernment – Measuring Performance: A Global Perspective.

The book’s 40 contributors from 17 nations demonstrate how eGovernment initiatives – to include Web 2.0 and social media tools and multi-channel public contact services – can benefit from performance measurement.

“Today’s social media and IT tools have many built-in metrics that if properly applied can help governments truly measure the effectiveness of the services they provide,” said Alan Shark, Executive Director of PTI and the book’s co-executive editor. “With this book we provide officials with examples of how these tools are being adopted in government agencies across the globe.”

Read more    05-14-2010

By Clifford Clarke, CISM, PMP, CGEIT

Many local governments are leveraging the power of Web 2.0 and civic media, but they are still concerned about the resource impacts and policy implications of these tools. This PTI TechBrief outlines six steps that can help ensure smooth navigation of Web 2.0 for your organization.

It contains a list of recorded webinars that PTI presented with the International Municipal Lawyers Association; and includes links to the written social media policies of several jurisdictions.

Members: Read more    05-14-2010

This Fairfax County, Virginia Procedural Memorandum establishes the policies and procedures governing content on the county’s public website, including all servers that serve content to the public on behalf of Fairfax County, and delineates procedures and responsibilities for approving content.

The memorandum includes the policies governing use of social media in the county.

Members: Read more    02-03-2010

PTI Staff Contact: Dale Bowen, 202-626-2456.

Using technology tools that promote transparency in municipal government is the leading technology topic of interest to local officials, according to a brief survey of National League of Cities (NLC) and Public Technology Institute (PTI) members.

Read more    02-01-2010

PTI Staff Contact: Dale Bowen, 202-626-2456.

Web 2.0 technologies and social media tools are becoming more of an option for local governments to use as a platform for enhanced citizen engagement.

In August 2009, PTI conducted a survey of local governments about their use of and experiences with Web 2.0. The survey was sent to local government IT executives, e-government directors and web managers.

Three hundred fifty U.S. cities and counties were asked to participate in the survey, with 15 percent responding.

A report summarizing the survey findings is available to PTI members.

Members: Read more    09-21-2009

Rutgers - SFSU Municipal E-Governance Survey Ranks Washington DC #1

A national survey of city websites has identified Washington, DC as the top-ranked city in the performance of municipal E-governance. The research study was conducted jointly by the E-Governance Institute, School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark, and the Department of Public Administration at San Francisco State University.

Read more    05-21-2009

Multi-channel contact centers - a 311 telephone number, a city or county website, or walk-up help desks - provide citizens quick and easy access to local government. For elected leaders, these centers help you stay in touch with your constituents.

To help elected leaders better understand the role that these centers can play in connecting with constituents, and to help elected leaders understand the technologies that bring these centers to life, PTI has published the brief guide The Value of Multi-Channel Contact Centers: A Checklist for Local Elected Officials.

Read more    03-13-2009

Please recommend additional resources for this list to the webmaster.

Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines
The federal web usability book, updated in 2006 and available in print or PDF.

Universal Usability / Access by Design
This site houses an unabridged, online version of Access by Design: A Guide to Universal Usability for Web Designers by Sarah Horton.

Members: Read more    10-03-2008

2007-2008 Technology Solutions Awards: Web & E-Government provides examples of how several PTI member local governments are employing web technology.

Each example describes the problem or issue the local government needed to solve, details of how it addressed the problem, and the results of that solution or implementation.

These projects were submitted in the PTI 2007-2008 Technology Solutions Award competition. This annual program recognizes PTI members that have demonstrated how, through the use of technology, government has improved community services, improved internal operations or reduced costs.

Read more    06-27-2008

Please suggest additional sites to be listed here, to the webmaster.

Members: Read more    05-30-2008

2006-2007 Technology Solutions: Web and E-Government Services provides examples of how local governments are using web-based tools to improve services and electronic government operations.

Each example describes the problem or issue the local government needed to solve, details of how it addressed the problem, and the results of that solution or implementation.

These programs are specific to web services and were submitted as part of the PTI 2006-2007 Technology Solutions Award competition. This annual program recognizes PTI members that have demonstrated how, through the use of technology, local government has improved community services, improved internal operations or reduced costs.

Examples contained in this report:

Read more    07-13-2007

In 2006-2007, the City and County of Denver engaged Forrester Research to evaluate the usability of a redesigned DenverGov.org website.

The consultants delivered a website “scorecard”, containing a heuristic analysis of the site’s value, navigation, presentation and trust elements, with research citations; and an 80-slide presentation illustrating personas, scenarios, task flows and recommendations for change.

Members: Read more    05-16-2007

This document provides a snapshot of the level of agency readiness for launch of a new website. Courtesy of City and County of Denver.

Members: Read more    05-14-2007

These 25 criteria are useful in evaluating site usability. Courtesy of City and County of Denver.

Members: Read more    05-14-2007

This document outlines the primary responsibilities of the Agency Information Specialist, who provides a common point of coordination, analysis, and reference for all content-related issues within an agency. Courtesy of City and County of Denver.

Members: Read more    05-01-2007

Three advisory reports cover “cross-channel design”—a consistent approach to customer experience via web, E-mail and telephone.

Members: Read more    05-01-2007