Governors on Tech: Broadband and Telehealth Top the 2021 Agenda
Source: GovTech Published: January 29th
When the nation’s governors delivered their annual State of the State addresses in 2020, broadband was on a notable upswing. In fact, our story last year included in its headline “Broadband Is Critical Infrastructure,” detailing the increased prevalence of talking about connectivity needs in these speeches — the address each state’s top elected official uses to set their policy agenda for the coming year. In 2020, some even included specific plans and budget allocations to support their efforts.
In 2021, the prevalence of broadband references skyrocketed. COVID-19-induced remote everything exposed gaps and disparities in every state in the country. While the connected majority proved they had what they needed to learn and work from home, those without devices and a sufficient Internet connection found their disadvantages multiplied. The editorial team at Government Technology is reading and analyzing these speeches as they are delivered, picking out mentions that reference tech, and this year, it’s far more likely for governors to talk about broadband than not.
On a related note, 2021 marks a departure from the last several years in another way: Governors got a closer-than-ever look at how prepared (or not) states were to deliver services to citizens without face-to-face contact. The pressure on digital services and the back-end systems that support them continues to be intense, especially on programs like unemployment insurance, food assistance and other social services. It was technology’s time to shine. But did it? Many governors got specific about where their systems fell short, and talked about plans to fix them. Others mentioned swift changes they enacted to deal with the current crisis that will continue to serve them well far beyond it.
Beyond broadband and digital services, governors offered up a third clear tech-enabled priority: telehealth. Turns out medical care delivered virtually can be quite effective in a larger number of cases than people might have believed before the pandemic. In huge numbers, people accessed health care in this way and proved that it can work, leading to long-term support to broaden telehealth access even further.
We’ll update this story as additional addresses are delivered.
-Noelle Knell
ALABAMA STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: Feb. 2, 2021
ALASKA STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: Jan. 28, 2021
Stars: 0
To sum it up: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s third state of the state address didn’t mention specific technology initiatives, but it touched on several accomplishments that involved technology and nodded to some 21st-century needs. He started by praising the state’s response to the pandemic and having the third-lowest COVID-19 mortality rate in the U.S. He said private businesses stepped up to make swabs or sanitizer, and he mentioned a new housing relief program, although he didn’t mention investing in online infrastructure to make it work. Without citing technology as a factor, Dunleavy talked about supporting innovative businesses in wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and other forms of renewable energy, and about wooing investors in unmanned aircraft research. He floated a possible $350-million bond package that includes energy upgrades and infrastructure, and he said he’s instructing the Department of Education to create summer camps to boost students’ coding skills, as well as reading and math. Reiterating the importance of energy for the state’s economy, he said Alaska is making progress on a natural gas line between its North Slope and developed areas.
Read the governor's speech here.
ARIZONA STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: Jan. 11
Stars: 1
To sum it up: Gov. Doug Ducey opened his State of the State address by commending everyday Arizonans for the resiliency they demonstrated in the last year, despite the unexpected trials that came with 2020. His speech emphasized the importance of restoring the economy, continuing to add jobs and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Technology received little attention beyond a general call to improve broadband expansion and access to telemedicine. Ducey did not follow up with any specific plans to address how the state will work toward either issue. Despite citing a $50 million investment in the Smart Corridor Program to pave the way for broadband infrastructure in last year’s address, there was no follow-up on its progress.
Ducey affirmed that the digital divide has impacted public education, acknowledging that students across the state are falling behind in school due to limited access to Wi-Fi or laptops. But rather than investing in ways to provide the latter, he advocated directing resources to longer school days.
Last, Ducey gave a nod to the transition to telework for many state employees. He signaled his support for entering the “new normal” by adding that he hoped to “shrink” the government by eliminating unnecessary state buildings to save taxpayer dollars.
Read the governor’s speech here.
ARKANSAS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: Jan. 12, 2021
Stars: 1
To sum it up: In his final state of the state address Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called attention to the stresses tugging at not only Arkansas, but the nation, including the COVID-19 crisis and societal divisions. In addition to calls for extending emergency rules around telemedicine, education waivers or aid for businesses beyond their Feb. 27 sunset date, the governor advocated for more spending and focus in areas like highspeed Internet. Hutchinson highlighted existing technical advancements like the Rural Connect Grant program, which invested $86.8 million into efforts to provide broadband service for some 70,000 residents. His proposed budget includes an additional $30 million for getting broadband to rural areas of the state in an effort to not only help close the digital divide in Arkansas, but improve quality of life and grow the economy by attracting news businesses to the state. Hutchinson also pointed to progress Arkansas has made in computer science education, and is advocating for requiring a credit in the course as a requirement for high school graduation.
Read the governor’s speech here here.
CALIFORNIA STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: TBD
COLORADO STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: TBD
CONNECTICUT STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Address date: Jan. 6, 2021
Stars: 1
To sum it up: In the introduction to his speech, Gov. Ned Lamont remarked that he has been working in a “virtual room.” In the rest of his address, Lamont made several references to technology, though he didn’t always connect the dots. The governor showed a commitment to electric vehicles, a greener power grid and enhanced cybersecurity, but more detail on these items would have resulted in a stronger statement. He underlined the importance of access to not only high-speed Internet but also to digital devices when it comes to ensuring that students can continue to learn as the pandemic continues. However, despite mentioning telework multiple times, he did not connect broadband expansion to the everyday person’s ability to work from home or run a small business. Clearly Lamont is aware of tech’s increased significance in these uncertain, unusual times, but his State of the State speech did not outline many specifics.
Read the governor’s speech here.
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