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July 30, 2002 By John Earnhardt, Cisco Government Affairs
 Recently (note to editors: July 14th to be exact), Cisco President and CEO John Chambers gave the keynote address to U.S. governors at the annual National Governor's Association's (NGA) conference in Boise, Idaho. John spoke to the governors about the importance on deploying broadband, technology in education, and how the Internet can increase productivity of state government. His presentation was entitled "Back to Basics," in which he discussed the parallel between Internet Business Solutions and productivity and standard of living improvements.
Most states are currently dealing with state budget deficits and facing the possibility of cutting essential government services, but Johns remarks about the productivity gains from implementing Internet based applications re-awakened many Governors to the importance of the Internet.
The main messages on Chambers presentation included:
 E-Applications Equal Productivity. Productivity improvements drive improvements in the standard of living. Chambers discussed how the states were not only competing against each other -- but we as a nation are competing in the global economy. He discussed Cisco's utilization of corporate communications, customer care, and e-learning.
 Internet and Education are the Great Equalizers. This was the most discussed issue during the Q&A session. Chambers' message was that the U.S. higher education system is excellent, but that K-12 continues to need improvement. He also mentioned the Cisco's Networking Academy program as a good proof point in the efficacy of e-learning. Responding to a question from Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R-ID) (the new Vice Chairman of the NGA), Chambers said the formula for growth is fairly straightforward: "The jobs will go where the best educated work force is, where the right infrastructure is, with the right supportive government."
Broadband for All. Chambers emphasized how the U.S. needed a national broadband strategy, one that would make broadband accessible to all Americans by 2010.
Networked Virtual Organization. The new business model that all industries will follow to ensure they are focused on the right activities and implement the most impactful applications, all via the Internet.
During the conference the Governors were able to build on the momentum from John's remarks on the importance of broadband and productivity and some successes came from the conference on that front, such as:
The NGA's Committee on Economic Development and Commerce plans to endorse the concept of a Federal National Broadband strategy at their fall planning session.
Broadband strategy, e-government and productivity will be highlighted in NGA's transition conference for new Governors, CIOs and other cabinet level officials this winter. This is an especially valuable opportunity given the high number of new Governors coming in next term (at least 18 new governors will be elected in November).
Technology was a common theme throughout the annual meeting. In fact, Gov. Kempthorne's "take away" from the conference was "a thought reiterated from the first speaker, Cisco Systems Inc. President John Chambers, to the last, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The idea is that information technology - and the millions of dollars needed to keep it up to date - is a vital component of health care, education and other state services. In education especially, Idaho has treated technology expenditures as a separate option, not as an integral budget line. Kempthorne said he'd remember this when he's drawing up budgets in the future."
* From the Idaho Statesman
Governors attending the conference represented the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
If you would more information on the conference please, please contact the Cisco Government Affairs team.
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