Government Technology - October 2008 - (Page 6)

point of view October Surprise Group Publisher: EDITORIAL Editor: Associate Editors: Chief Copy Editor: Managing Editor: Justice and Public Safety Editor: Copy Editor: Features Editor: Assistant Editor: Staff Writer: Editorial Assistant: Contributing Editor: Contributing Writer: DESIGN Creative Director: Senior Designer: Graphic Designers: Illustrator: Production Director: Production Manager: PUBLISHING VP Strategic Accounts: VP Bus. Development: DON PEARSON dpearson@govtech.com STEVE TOWNS stowns@govtech.com EMILY MONTANDON emontandon@govtech.com CHAD VANDER VEEN cvanderveen@govtech.com MIRIAM JONES mjones@govtech.com KAREN STEWARTSON kstewartson@govtech.com JIM MCKAY jmckay@govtech.com ELAINE RUNDLE erundle@govtech.com ANDY OPSAHL aopsahl@govtech.com MATT WILLIAMS mwilliams@govtech.com HILTON COLLINS hcollins@govtech.com CORTNEY TOWNS ctowns@govtech.com TOD NEWCOMBE tnewcombe@govtech.com JESSICA HUGHES A couple of months ago, athletes from around the world assembled in Beijing for the Olympic Games. Despite political undertones and a number of unsettling questions about the Chinese government, the games once again helped prove we share more in common than we’re aware of. While few of us pay field hockey and trampoline gymnastics much attention in non-Olympic years, even these obscure sports show how a dream and determination can sometimes pay off. In a similar spirit, this month’s cover story is actually three stories about technology issues and how governments worldwide approach them. As different as cultures may tributing writer Jessica Hughes tells the tale of South Bend, Ind., and how city officials equipped the sewer system with Wi-Fi to better control wastewater when major storms roll through. Of course, the big story in October is the run-up to the election. Throughout the year, we’ve covered the technology side of campaigns and presidential politics. Now there is little to do but wait and see what happens. Regardless of who wins, this election will be a turning point in our nation’s history. And more so than ever before, the eyes of the world will be turned toward America and who we choose to lead us into the next decade of the 21st century. KELLY MARTINELLI kmartinelli@govtech.com CRYSTAL HOPSON chopson@govtech.com MICHELLE HAMM mhamm@govtech.com JOE COLOMBO jcolombo@govtech.com TOM MCKEITH tmckeith@govtech.com STEPHAN WIDMAIER swidm@govtech.com JOEI HEART jheart@govtech.com JON FYFFE jfyffe@govtech.com TIM KARNEY tkarney@govtech.com EAST PAM FYFFE pfyffe@govtech.com WEST, CENTRAL LESLIE HUNTER lhunter@govtech.com EAST SHELLEY BALLARD sballard@govtech.com WEST, CENTRAL MELISSA CANO mcano@govtech.com EAST ERIN HUX ehux@govtech.com WEST, CENTRAL GLENN SWENSON gswenson@govtech.com KRISTA O’SULLIVAN kosullivan@govtech.com LISA DOUGHTY ldoughty@govtech.com SABRINA SHEWMAKE sshewmake@govtech.com CHRISTINE CHILDS cchilds@govtech.com ANDREA KLEINBARDT akleinbardt@govtech.com WHITNEY SWEET wsweet@govtech.com LANA HERRERA lherrera@govtech.com KARIN MORGAN kmorgan@govtech.com STACEY TOLES stoles@govtech.com JIM MEYERS jmeyers@govtech.com VIKKI PALAZZARI vpalazzari@govtech.com PETER SIMEK psimek@govtech.com MICHELLE MROTEK mmrotek@govtech.com JULIE DEDEAUX jdedeaux@govtech.com GOSIA USTASZEWSKA subscriptions@govtech.com Sr. Director of Sales: Regional Sales Directors: Account Managers: “In this age of globalism, what we do in November will ripple around the world.” be, from Canada to Australia and South Korea, some challenges cross borders and language — and it’s worthwhile to check in now and then to see what our international counterparts are up to. Closer to home, fiscal realities continue to affect how governments conduct business. In this issue, Assistant Editor Matt Williams investigates how agencies can use open source solutions to achieve bigtime results without the bigtime price. This issue also features the impressive account of one city’s innovative approach to dealing with the dirtiest of problems. ConJust as the Olympics are a quadrennial reminder of our shared stake in the human condition, the election of our next president serves as a chance to right past wrongs and chart a new course. In this age of globalism, what we do in November will ripple around the world. And we just might find that the more things change, the more we’re all the same. Wouldn’t that be a nice surprise? Business Development Dir.: Bus. Dev./Sales Associates: Regional Sales Admins: Dir. of Marketing: Dir. of Custom Events: Associate Dir. of Custom Events: Custom Events Coordinator: Dir. of Custom Publications: Custom Publications Writer: Dir. of Web Products and Services: Web Services Manager: Proj. Manager, Web Products and Services: Web Advertising Manager: Subscription Coordinator: CORPORATE CEO: Executive VP: Executive VP: CAO: CFO: VP of Events: Marketing Director: DENNIS MCKENNA dmckenna@govtech.com DON PEARSON dpearson@govtech.com CATHILEA ROBINETT crobinet@centerdigitalgov.com LISA BERNARD lbernard@govtech.com PAUL HARNEY pharney@govtech.com ALAN COX acox@govtech.com DREW NOEL dnoel@govtech.com CHAD VANDER VEEN ASSOCIATE EDITOR Government Technology is published by e.Republic Inc. Copyright 2008 by e.Republic Inc. All rights reserved. Government Technology is a registered trademark of e.Republic Inc. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily those of the publisher or editors. Article submissions should be sent to the attention of the Managing Editor. Reprints of all articles in this issue and past issues are available (500 minimum). Please direct inquiries to the YGS Group: Attn. Erik Eberz at (800) 290-5460 ext.150 or governmenttechnology@theygsgroup.com. OCT_08 j 6 Raise Your Voice Your opinions matter to us. Send comments about this issue to the editors editorial@govtech.com. Please list your telephone number for confirmation. Publication is solely at the discretion of the editors. Government Technology reserves the right to edit submissions for length. Subscription Information: Requests for subscriptions may be directed to Circulation Director by phone or fax to the numbers below. You can also subscribe online at www.govtech.com. 100 Blue Ravine Rd. Folsom, CA 95630 Phone: (916) 932-1300 Fax: (916) 932-1470 www.govtech.com PRINTED IN THE USA http://www.govtech.com http://www.govtech.com http://www.govtech.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - October 2008

Government Technology - October 2008 Contents Point of View On the Scene Big Picture Four Questions for... Letters Cover Stories: Border Crossing The Australian E-Connection Easy Rider Northern Exposure Technology on the Cheap Ditching the Desktop Heightening the Experience Pipe Dream Falling Between the Cracks Come Together, Right Now... It's a ... Car? Digital State of the Art Spectrum Products Two Cents signal:noise

Government Technology - October 2008

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