Cooper proposed creating the "Interstate Communications Expressway," which would build interoperability and standards among levels of government and private enterprise.
He compared the model to the construction of the interstate highway system launched by President Eisenhower in the 1950s to address defense concerns.
Cooper said the federal government would pay for the communication "highways" and interstate "on ramps" under certain conditions.
"The catch is, if you don't agree with the standards and architecture compliance, you pay the bill," he said.
Another requirement is that projects have applications beyond the defense arena. Cooper cited the Smart Borders initiative as a project that could produce economic benefits along with securing international borders.
Cooper urged the more than 40 CIOs attending the conference and private sector providers to develop pilot projects that are multi-purpose, multi-jurisdictional, cost no more than $1 million and can be completed in three to six months.
The projects should be "horizontal and vertical" in nature, he said, to allow more than one agency or jurisdiction to benefit, such as public health agencies.
Cooper said public health is a high priority.
"Public health is not well connected across the United States," he said, describing the health-threat scenarios run by his office as "scary" because of the potential for massive loss of life. "My preference is not to have public health go build its own private network. Why can't public health ride the Interstate Communication Expressway?"
He said the greatest challenge is not in the technology but in the area of building the business architecture -- complete with strategies, policies and processes that can be carried out on an intergovernmental basis.
Cooper said that information sharing, intergovernmental integration, the development of common metadata for homeland security, interoperable public safety emergency communications and improved public health communications are fundamental to homeland security.
He added that the federal government can't succeed alone, asking state and local CIOs to become actively involved in building a national communications system.
Kim Bahrami, Florida's CIO, asked Cooper if his proposal would be linked to the appropriations and budget process, saying that efforts to fund such projects would be "a waste of time" without this support.
Cooper admitted it was late to influence much of the 2003 budget but expressed hope the 2004 budget will include adequate funding.
New Mexico CIO Bob Stafford expressed his frustration over the unwillingness of local governments in particular, to trust the federal government, particularly the FBI. Cooper acknowledged this challenge and said the Office of Homeland Security is trying to develop a system that will keep broad information proprietary while allowing for the transfer of specific data.
Larry Singer, CIO of Georgia, said equal focus should be on developing intrastate collaboration, noting Georgia's efforts to build a statewide telecommunications system highlighted the challenges of inter-jurisdictional cooperation.
Although there was general optimism about the reach from federal government, there was also some doubts concerning the proposed communications system.
Virginia CIO George Newstrom said Cooper had not covered some sensitive issues.
"We support him, but there are big policy questions about the sharing of information, and privacy without giving up rights," Newstrom said. "We are going to have to find a balance."
Outgoing NASCIO president Rock Regan, who is also Connecticut's CIO, said the opportunity to work with the federal government to create intergovernmental projects will be welcomed by his peers.
"I think it will be widely accepted," he said. "The challenge is to embrace what [Cooper] said. The wheels are already turning in my head about what Connecticut can do with states in our region for pilot projects."
