Telecommunications
& Technology
Library Director Carl Sandstedt has often stated that creating a top flight telecommunications infrastructure will be more important to the economic future of St. Charles County than the Page Avenue Extension! Will it be possible to provide library service without walls in the next five years?
Forum topics included:
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Status of the statewide telecommunications backbone. |
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Plans and capapbilities of the telecommunications providers. |
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Status of implementing newer technologies |
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Status of providing high bandwidth capability |
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State’s role in information technology, especially in relation to local and regional agencies. |
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Status of MOREnet III. |
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Future projects at the state level. |
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Future projects at MOREnet |
Here's a summary of what was discussed in forum #2
SPEAKERS Public Forum #2
Mike Benzen
Chief Information Officer
State of Missouri, Office of Information Technology
As CIO for Missouri State Government, Mike is responsible for statewide strategic planning, monitoring information technology procurement and directing the adoption of statewide IT policy and standards. Current initiatives include Year 2000 compliance, electronic commerce, public data access and data center consolidations. Previous to his appointment to the position of CIO, Mike was employed by the Missouri Department of Mental Health for 25 years, serving the last four of those years as Director of Information Technology.
Currently he serves as vice-president of the National Association of State Information Research Executives (NASIRE) and participates on national committees regarding Year 2000 date change initiatives and information technology workforce issues. Mike has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri.
Tony Wening
Program Director, MOREnet
(Missouri Research and Education Network)
Tony’s primary responsibilities include managing the Remote Electronic Access for Libraries project (REAL) to connect Missouri’s public libraries, the Missouri Express Project to create community information networks, coordinating affairs of the MOREnet consortium, technical support for the office of Administration and Secretary of State, negotiation and procurement of state-wide licenses for on-line reference resources and FCC/PSC issues as they relate to Universal Service Fund telecommunication discounts for schools and libraries. Tony’s background is originally with public libraries, followed by 21 years experience in the federal government. Before joining MOREnet, Tony was employed by the Missouri State Library.