Governments provide a range of services from disaster relief and public safety to public education. Already, information technology is being used to help deliver these services. Fishing licenses are being issued from electronic terminals and reservations for a campground in a National Park can be made on-line. Governments at all levels are creating electronic systems like California's "Info/California" kiosk based service delivery that, so far, includes twelve State agencies, two county governments and the US Internal Revenue Service. The US Postal Service has been a leader in kiosk-based service delivery and continues to expand its use of kiosks.
In the public safety arena, for years the FBI's National Crime Information Center has helped State and local police catch fugitives from justice no matter where they attempt to hide. And each year the American people and governments at all levels must cope with natural disasters -- tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. Property is destroyed and, most tragically, lives are lost. In times like these how can governments best deliver the services that are needed? How can information technology assist governments and the public in these times of need?
Questions related to services: