The Progress & Freedom Foundation Thursday releases its latest report on how state governments are shaping up for a technology-enriched future.
The Digital State, an annual report from PFF, grades each state's use of digital technology in the areas of education, business regulation, taxation, social services, and law enforcement. The study also looks at the level of "digital democracy" -- which states are allowing constituents easy access to legislators and information on government issues in general.
PFF, a nonprofit research and educational organization, is based in Washington, DC.
"States that take the lead on information technology will be more attractive to business, will educate children more effectively, and give taxpayers more value for their money," said PFF president Jeffrey Eisenach, who will present a briefing of the report on Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Eisenach will also honor representatives from the state of Washington, which came out on top in the report for the second year running. Wisconsin and Missouri were second and third, respectively, while President Clinton's home state of Arkansas was the worst ranked of the 50 states, just behind Illinois.
States that consistently scored high in many of the categories, including business regulation and education, were Michigan, Alaska, and South Dakota. California, home to the technological abundance of Silicon Valley, failed to head up any of the eight areas surveyed.
Representative Rick White (R-Washington), chair of the Internet Caucus in Congress, is one of several officials expected to attend the briefing and take note of the findings. "A number of state officials will attend, but several House representatives have had to cancel because of Kenneth Starr's report to Capitol Hill," said Jill Murphy, a PFF spokeswoman.
The study is an important barometer for state legislators, advocacy groups, and educators, who can see at a glance which state programs are using technology effectively and which aren't.
The study also goes into detail about whether state governments are adopting technologies such as teleconferencing and how many college dorms are wired with computers.
