"This signing signifies a successful bi-partisan effort and a victory for all residents that should send notice to both instate and non-Vermont companies?a new Information Age has dawned in the Green Mountain State," Douglas said when signing the bill. "The message of the importance of IT from small business owners, chief executive officers, and local residents has been heard. The Information Superhighway will no longer detour Vermont."
The creation of the department aggregates the efforts of state's information technology (IT) employees, provides them with a prominent seat at the table of government and creates a Technology Advisory Board made up of public, private, and academic experts who will assist in guiding the state's technology development and implementation. The commissioner of the department will also be CIO. The department will be made up of state employees from existing departments. Currently, there are approximately 210 IT employees throughout state government.
The governor said that his initiative will pushVermont state government into the 21st Century by consolidating services, finding efficiencies through innovation and adopting new technologies to better serve Vermonters. The governor also highlighted the need employers have for the best, most technically skilled, employees they can find. And, the Douglas said, "employers also expect a modern, affordable and universally accessible telecommunications network."
