HOME  E-DEMOCRACY 98  E-DEBATE WEB MN-FORUM

Hubert H. Humphrey      Response 12

Question 12: Even as access to advanced technology and high speed Internet improves, many of the disparities in access between rich and poor, urban and rural Minnesota are growing. Should the state have a role in narrowing this gap? What would you do specifically as Governor to create more access to these tools for all Minnesotans?

As the digital economy has emerged over the past decade, we have
witnessed worldwide the tremendous power of technology--particularly
communications technology--in democratizing totalitarian states, in
opening closed markets and in fundamentally transforming the way we
live and work. Given these profound social and economic impacts, the
Humphrey/Moe administration must play several important roles to help
secure for all Minnesotans sufficient access to, and training to use,
these critical tools of democracy.

First and foremost, the Humphrey/Moe administration will provide
leadership and coordination for the many federal, state and local
programs that have already been established to improve access to
technology. In September, we proposed the Minnesota Knowledge
Initiative (MKI) not a new program, but a new approach to government,
designed to encourage community, non-profit and business leaders to
participate in developing the policies that will shape Minnesota's
place in the global digital economy. Through the MKI, the
Humphrey/Moe administration will leverage public and private sector
efforts to expand technology access for all Minnesotans. And as a
frequent and ethusiastic user of the Internet, I plan to play an
active and personal role in moving Minnesota forward on this agenda.

Second, the Humphrey/Moe administration will invest in technology
training for workers and students. Access to technology is
meaningless without the ability to use it. The Humphrey /Moe budget
includes the HIRE program, a tax credit of $1000 per worker over two
years for businesses that pay for workers' technical training and
career development. Our balanced budget plan also includes funding
for a higher education tax credit to allow high school graduates from
low and moderate income families to receive state supplements to
federal HOPE tax credits totaling up to $2500 per year for two years
of college or technical school. In addition, the Humphrey/Moe
administration will support innovative educational initiatives, such
as the Access Minnesota Main Street program sponsored by the
University of Minnesota Extension Service. This project provides
information and training for individuals and companies that want to
learn how to do business on the Internet. Once coordinated through
the leadership of the MKI, these efforts will result in a seamless,
efficient and integrated technology training system for all
Minnesotans.

Third, the Humphrey /Moe administration, working with our private
sector partners, will work to improve and expand our technology
infrastructure. Sustainable economic development in our disadvantaged
communities and throughout Greater Minnesota requires additional
investment in greater capacity and alternative technologies. We must
find ways to encourage investment by the private sector, and we must
support ongoing efforts at the federal level to achieve universal
service for our citizens. The Humphrey/Moe budget also includes
proposals of $105 million for a school building investment fund and
$50 million for a Telecommunications and Technology fund to expand and
improve connectivity for our schools and libraries statewide. Once we
have made these investments we must work with community leaders to
increase access to these facilities after normal business hours so all
members of the community can benefit from these investments.

Information and communications technology tools have become
increasingly essential to meaningful participation in our society and
our economy. Consequently, access to these tools must be viewed as a
fundamental necessity for all Minnesotans. The Humphrey/Moe
administration will provide the leadership, training and
infrastructure support necessary to secure for our citizens the
opportunities and promise of the global economy.