Welcome to the World Cup “I Believe” edition of the Weekly WHAT, where we're still reeling from that Portugal goal but looking forward to tomorrow’s game. GO USA!
Key Takeaway:
Bipartisan Reform of Workforce Program Will Have Tech Implications
The Senate is poised to pass H.R.803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which has an excellent chance of being signed into law. The bipartisan, bicameral bill is an update to the Workforce Investment Act with an objective of streamlining and focusing job training programs to create “a system that prepares workers for the 21st century workforce, while helping businesses find the skilled employees they need to compete and create jobs in America.” So why are we talking about in the NASCIO weekly WHAT? Because it’s going to require investment in information systems and new technology in the states.
While not a main thrust of the discussion among sponsors and supporters, there is a significant tech piece to WIOA. First, there is the need to create a process for common data collection and reporting processes that are standardized across all levels of government--no small feat in itself. Perhaps more daunting, the legislation requires the creation of a “workforce and labor market information system” at the national level, as well as complementary systems at the state level, that will be utilized to collect and analyze economic, market, employment, and labor data. A condition of the grant is management of “a statewide workforce and labor market information system” that collects and disseminates the data required. The legislation provides for “$63,473,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each of the 6 succeeding fiscal years” for the creation of the national and state information systems.
Many states already have systems in place for collecting much of this data. This legislation will clearly require replacing, streamlining, and updating the disparate systems and processes that currently exist. In a comparatively small change, there is also a requirement that states will provide “a description of how the State will utilize technology to facilitate access to services in remote areas, which may be used throughout the State.”
This bill has wide and broad support from both the private and public sector, including the National Governors Association (NGA), which sent a letter to Congressional leadership expressing its strong support for the bill and urging lawmakers to pass the legislation.
Other Buzz:
E-Rate Draft Order expected July 11
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler has circulated a draft order to modernize the E-Rate program for schools and libraries to his fellow Commissioners. The Order will be reviewed and potentially amended by other commissioners, and ultimately will need to be approved at the upcoming FCC open meeting on July 11. The new order will include a wide range of reforms to the broadband subsidy program, including expedited consideration of consortia applications (see this fact sheet from the FCC).
The FCC’s agenda for the Commission’s July 11 open meeting also includes “a report and Order establishing a budget and a methodology for selecting winning applications” for the Connect America Fund’s planned rural broadband experiments.
Senate Minibus Delayed
The Senate had high hopes for approving its first package of appropriations bills for FY 15. However, Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the its “minibus” of spending bills--consisting of the Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development--after failing to reach an agreement with the minority on what amendments would be allowed. This has increased the uncertainty surrounding the upper chambers passage of spending bills after some initial optimism regarding the passage of FY 15 spending earlier this year. While the House of Representatives continues to approve spending bills for the upper chamber, it is unclear how the Senate will proceed on spending bills moving forward.
Your Weekly Techbytes:
GAO: USDA Should Evaluate the Performance of the Rural Broadband Loan Program
World Cup Security Team Accidentally Gives Out Wi-Fi Password (oops)
Google to become a domain name registrar
Florida will soon have a CIO
Chopra: open data is key if government wants to solve big problems
Ban on Internet Taxes Could Cost States Millions
The Government’s Shrinking IT Workforce
Could the Aereo Decision Impact Cloud Storage Innovation?