From their desks, employees will be able to tap into data that, in the past, required significant research. Citizens will be able to apply for permits, pay their bills, and look up community activities via their home computer. Mayors and managers will be able to receive instant feedback from their citizens via community bulletin boards. But many risks and potential losses await local governments as they begin their journey onto the information superhighway. Other issues that surround the NII include privacy and universal access.
Problems exist now over confidentiality on the Internet.
Local governments will have to address this issue in the beginning, not after it has become a problem. Universal access leads to another area of concern. Local governments will need to devise a way for all citizens to have access to the information highway. The key for dealing with these problems is for local governments to become actively involved with the NII so as not to be left behind by the telecommunications, telephone and cable industries. Because many local governments are already using various technologies to share information and deliver services, the organizations involved in the awareness campaign wanted to learn more about local government activities.