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November 18, 2003
GovPro E-Newsletter
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 Volume 2, Issue 45
Welcome to the GovPro Newsletter brought to you by the Penton Government Media Group. Look forward to news, resources, product and supplier information, and links relating to the government market.
If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by Ford Motor Co.
CONTENTS
States Fiscal Improving Section 508 Opens Accessibility Remote County Goes Wireless State and Local Workers Top 15 Million News of The Weird
FEATURES
STATE FISCAL PICTURE BRIGHTENS
For the first time in more than two years, a handful of states are reporting that recent tax collections are meeting and even exceeding estimates and that the future revenue picture is growing brighter.
The evidence at this point is scattered a surplus here, a good forecast there. But taken as a whole it signals good news for states, many of which have been forced to cut programs and raise taxes to cope with more than two years of budget deficits. And while it may be too soon to drive nails in the "State Budget Crisis" coffin, some state officials are readying their hammers.
"I think the major thing is that we feel like we've bottomed out and are coming back up," said Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen, adding that the state expects revenue growth of 3 percent this year and the next.
"It's a big change from even a year ago, he said. Our budget is completely sufficient to get us through this fiscal year. We are planning no midyear cutbacks. We do not have a deficit."
ht/tp://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27666/
INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
Although Stephen Rainard is blind, he operates a computer in his job with the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) in Cleveland, OH. Currently employed as a transcriber with the VAs Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Division, Rainard has held various positions with the federal government for the past 28 years.
Rainards blindness resulted from his premature birth, at which time he was given excessive oxygen that led to a degenerative eye disease. His eyesight progressively deteriorated, and he became completely blind by the age of 13. Nevertheless, Rainard learned how to type and keep pace with steady strides in computerized technology. He notes that the advent of computers was a monumental step in assuring typing accuracy.
I dont think people realize that before computers, for a blind person to be competitive as a transcriber, the stress factor was at least twice [what] it would be for a person who could see, says Rain-ard. The stress factor related to not being able to proofread ones work to fix mistakes.
Then, about three years ago, Rainard received JAWS speech synthesis software, which reads aloud each word typed on a PC. The software provides an added boost for typing accuracy.
Having a talking computer is an advantage that puts me on a more competitive footing with my sighted counterparts, Rainard notes. Im able to control the quality of my work more critically, especially with spelling and grammar checks, and the quality factor goes up exponentially.
For full article and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27657/
FORD MOTOR CO.
Ford Motor Company is more than a global corporation. It's a world of people nearly 400,000 strong, connecting with customers every day. For years, for decades, Ford trucks have gotten the job done. Be sure to visit your local Ford dealer. Your dealer will help you select the right truck and the right services to meet your needs.
http://www.commtruck.ford.com
REMOTE AREAS GO WIRELESS FOR HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
Faced with the challenge of providing high-speed Internet access to their communities, some municipalities have chosen to develop their own network to meet the growing demand. One such location that has felt the effects of the digital divide is Allegany County in Maryland, which is situated in the Appalachian Mountains roughly 150 miles outside of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD.
The running of cable and fiber is financially prohibitive in areas such as Allegany County because of the difficult terrain, so the installation of a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) was the answer.
The County began experimenting with unlicensed microwave technology in 1995 to connect 4,000 workstations in 90 buildings throughout the county and the City of Cumberland via AllCoNet, the countys Intranet. But the county wanted an even more robust network. It hoped to retain and attract businesses by working with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer a carrier class broadband networkto be called AllCoNet 2to both business and residential customers.
The county watched as others began using unlicensed microwave networks to work toward the same goal.
Allegany County has since been able to breach the digital divide by deploying a combination of licensed and unlicensed microwave technology. This wireless broadband technology has made it possible for the county to create a functional network with carrier-grade reliability. The Wireless ISP will provide high-speed Internet access to approximately 85 percent of residents, 95 percent of businesses, and 100 percent of government offices and industrial parks in Allegany County. The county plans to partner with local ISPs in the area, who will in turn provide Internet access.
The digital divide will not vanish overnight, but with the help of WISPs and companies like Stratex Networks, provider of Ethernet solutions, it will slowly diminish.
For more information on Stratex, visit: http://www.stratexnet.com
NEWS
STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS EXCEED 15 MILLION, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS
State and local governments employed 15.6 million "full-time equivalent" workers in 2002, a 1.6 percent increase over 2001, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.
The data are from the 2002 Census of State and Local Government Employment and Payroll. The census found that most employees worked in education (8.2 million), hospitals (917,000), police protection (887,000) and corrections (702,000). Other employment categories covered were streets and highways, public welfare, health, judicial and legal, financial administration and fire protection.
Of the total, local governments accounted for 11.4 million full-time equivalent employees and state governments 4.2 million. (The number of full-time equivalent employees is equal to the number of hours worked by part-time employees divided by the standard number of hours for a full-time employee. The result then is added to the number of full-time employees.)
The data are not subject to sampling variability. Quality-assurance procedures were applied to all phases of collection, processing and tabulation to minimize non-sampling errors. However, the data are still subject to errors of response, non-reporting and data processing.
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/apesstl.html
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28145/
It's Fast! It's Fun! It's new Technology! A new way to obtain information on the latest safety products. To view Safety E-Deck from Occupational Hazards magazine CLICK HERE! http://demg.penton.com/turnstile.php?ID=11062
LINKS
Cat Skid Steer Loaders and Multi-Terrain Loaders are designed and built for performance and versatility. Spec your loader at www.govbidspec.com.
Upbeats Institutional Catalog features site furnishings/amenities including trash containers, park benches, picnic tables, ash urns, bike racks, banners and more. Shop online http://www.upbeatinc.com
Cover-All Building Systems Inc is North America's largest manufacturer of pre-engineered clear span, membrane-covered frame structures. Offer clear span widths from 18 to 160 ft. http://www.coverall.net
Park Structures offers playground products at competitive prices. Choose from play systems and surface solutions. http://www.parkstructures.com
Safety Storage, the first choice for custom and pre-fabricated hazardous storage buildings. http://r.mb00.net/s/c?ij.4p62.11.1zs4.271n
C & H Distributors provide a fast, efficient way to purchase shelving, cabinets, packaging and shipping products, or office furniture. Visit: http://r.ms00.net/s/c?ij.4i5e.7.1umv.14mj
Crown Equipment designs, manufactures, distributes, services, and supports material handling products that provide customers with superior value. http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.5jpy.25.2cmg.2hbf
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://www.submag.com/sub/gn
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://www.submag.com/sub/gp
Copyright 2003 Penton Media, Inc.
Welcome to the GovPro Newsletter brought to you by the Penton Government Media Group. Look forward to news, resources, product and supplier information, and links relating to the government market.
If this message was sent in error or you wish to unsubscribe, see the unsubscribe information below.
Sponsored by Ford Motor Co.
CONTENTS
States Fiscal Improving Section 508 Opens Accessibility Remote County Goes Wireless State and Local Workers Top 15 Million News of The Weird
FEATURES
STATE FISCAL PICTURE BRIGHTENS
For the first time in more than two years, a handful of states are reporting that recent tax collections are meeting and even exceeding estimates and that the future revenue picture is growing brighter.
The evidence at this point is scattered a surplus here, a good forecast there. But taken as a whole it signals good news for states, many of which have been forced to cut programs and raise taxes to cope with more than two years of budget deficits. And while it may be too soon to drive nails in the "State Budget Crisis" coffin, some state officials are readying their hammers.
"I think the major thing is that we feel like we've bottomed out and are coming back up," said Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen, adding that the state expects revenue growth of 3 percent this year and the next.
"It's a big change from even a year ago, he said. Our budget is completely sufficient to get us through this fiscal year. We are planning no midyear cutbacks. We do not have a deficit."
ht/tp://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27666/
INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
Although Stephen Rainard is blind, he operates a computer in his job with the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) in Cleveland, OH. Currently employed as a transcriber with the VAs Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Division, Rainard has held various positions with the federal government for the past 28 years.
Rainards blindness resulted from his premature birth, at which time he was given excessive oxygen that led to a degenerative eye disease. His eyesight progressively deteriorated, and he became completely blind by the age of 13. Nevertheless, Rainard learned how to type and keep pace with steady strides in computerized technology. He notes that the advent of computers was a monumental step in assuring typing accuracy.
I dont think people realize that before computers, for a blind person to be competitive as a transcriber, the stress factor was at least twice [what] it would be for a person who could see, says Rain-ard. The stress factor related to not being able to proofread ones work to fix mistakes.
Then, about three years ago, Rainard received JAWS speech synthesis software, which reads aloud each word typed on a PC. The software provides an added boost for typing accuracy.
Having a talking computer is an advantage that puts me on a more competitive footing with my sighted counterparts, Rainard notes. Im able to control the quality of my work more critically, especially with spelling and grammar checks, and the quality factor goes up exponentially.
For full article and graphics, visit: http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/27657/
FORD MOTOR CO.
Ford Motor Company is more than a global corporation. It's a world of people nearly 400,000 strong, connecting with customers every day. For years, for decades, Ford trucks have gotten the job done. Be sure to visit your local Ford dealer. Your dealer will help you select the right truck and the right services to meet your needs.
http://www.commtruck.ford.com
REMOTE AREAS GO WIRELESS FOR HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
Faced with the challenge of providing high-speed Internet access to their communities, some municipalities have chosen to develop their own network to meet the growing demand. One such location that has felt the effects of the digital divide is Allegany County in Maryland, which is situated in the Appalachian Mountains roughly 150 miles outside of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD.
The running of cable and fiber is financially prohibitive in areas such as Allegany County because of the difficult terrain, so the installation of a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) was the answer.
The County began experimenting with unlicensed microwave technology in 1995 to connect 4,000 workstations in 90 buildings throughout the county and the City of Cumberland via AllCoNet, the countys Intranet. But the county wanted an even more robust network. It hoped to retain and attract businesses by working with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer a carrier class broadband networkto be called AllCoNet 2to both business and residential customers.
The county watched as others began using unlicensed microwave networks to work toward the same goal.
Allegany County has since been able to breach the digital divide by deploying a combination of licensed and unlicensed microwave technology. This wireless broadband technology has made it possible for the county to create a functional network with carrier-grade reliability. The Wireless ISP will provide high-speed Internet access to approximately 85 percent of residents, 95 percent of businesses, and 100 percent of government offices and industrial parks in Allegany County. The county plans to partner with local ISPs in the area, who will in turn provide Internet access.
The digital divide will not vanish overnight, but with the help of WISPs and companies like Stratex Networks, provider of Ethernet solutions, it will slowly diminish.
For more information on Stratex, visit: http://www.stratexnet.com
NEWS
STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS EXCEED 15 MILLION, CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS
State and local governments employed 15.6 million "full-time equivalent" workers in 2002, a 1.6 percent increase over 2001, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.
The data are from the 2002 Census of State and Local Government Employment and Payroll. The census found that most employees worked in education (8.2 million), hospitals (917,000), police protection (887,000) and corrections (702,000). Other employment categories covered were streets and highways, public welfare, health, judicial and legal, financial administration and fire protection.
Of the total, local governments accounted for 11.4 million full-time equivalent employees and state governments 4.2 million. (The number of full-time equivalent employees is equal to the number of hours worked by part-time employees divided by the standard number of hours for a full-time employee. The result then is added to the number of full-time employees.)
The data are not subject to sampling variability. Quality-assurance procedures were applied to all phases of collection, processing and tabulation to minimize non-sampling errors. However, the data are still subject to errors of response, non-reporting and data processing.
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/apesstl.html
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: Bizarre but true stories about real people. http://www.govpro.com/GPRONewsletter/Article/28145/
It's Fast! It's Fun! It's new Technology! A new way to obtain information on the latest safety products. To view Safety E-Deck from Occupational Hazards magazine CLICK HERE! http://demg.penton.com/turnstile.php?ID=11062
LINKS
Cat Skid Steer Loaders and Multi-Terrain Loaders are designed and built for performance and versatility. Spec your loader at www.govbidspec.com.
Upbeats Institutional Catalog features site furnishings/amenities including trash containers, park benches, picnic tables, ash urns, bike racks, banners and more. Shop online http://www.upbeatinc.com
Cover-All Building Systems Inc is North America's largest manufacturer of pre-engineered clear span, membrane-covered frame structures. Offer clear span widths from 18 to 160 ft. http://www.coverall.net
Park Structures offers playground products at competitive prices. Choose from play systems and surface solutions. http://www.parkstructures.com
Safety Storage, the first choice for custom and pre-fabricated hazardous storage buildings. http://r.mb00.net/s/c?ij.4p62.11.1zs4.271n
C & H Distributors provide a fast, efficient way to purchase shelving, cabinets, packaging and shipping products, or office furniture. Visit: http://r.ms00.net/s/c?ij.4i5e.7.1umv.14mj
Crown Equipment designs, manufactures, distributes, services, and supports material handling products that provide customers with superior value. http://r.pm0.net/s/c?ij.5jpy.25.2cmg.2hbf
You may qualify for a FREE Magazine Subscription
Complimentary subscriptions to Government Product News, a product-driven resource, and Government PROcurement, editorial targeting the public sector purchasing professional are available to those who qualify.
To subscribe to Government Product News visit: http://www.submag.com/sub/gn
To subscribe to Government Procurement visit: http://www.submag.com/sub/gp
Copyright 2003 Penton Media, Inc.
