The goal of the Strategic Issues Subcommittee is to touch on four key issues that will be presented before the legislature as the portal project moves beyond the demonstration phase. The growing division between businesses and citizens in the U.S does not exist in all countries. In the U.S., many businesses view personal privacy regulation as an impediment to new channels of revenue. The New York State Senate Majority Task Force on the Invasion of Privacy has come up with a code but not yet enacted it into law with some policies. Larry Hutchison reviewed the document and pointed out the difference between the customer base of government and business.
Business can target the market they want to focus on and government serves everyone.
If there is no ISP around there are long distance charges and that becomes a geographic and economic issue. Under the Economic Issues, PC and Internet penetration in the home seems to be highly dependent on household income and race. The final access issues are the disabilities. The Internet has a great potential of increasing the independence of those who live with a disability. We will look at learning disabilities as well.