January 10, 2002

Digits: Gambits & Gadgets In the World of Technology

High-Tech Havens?

To find America's most wired states, head for the cornfields.

In a somewhat surprising finding, Illinois and Kansas tied for first place in this year's fourth annual Digital State Survey, conducted by the Progress & Freedom Foundation and the Center for Digital Government. The poll tallies technologies in all 50 states, ranging from digital democracy to electronic education. "The job of providing digital government is not tightly correlated to work force, demographics, income or any of the things we might often associate with high-tech places," says Kent Lassman, author of the survey.

What's life like in America's most wired states? Not great if you're a criminal: Illinois troopers punch up licenses plates and warrants right from patrol cars, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation has the first FBI-certified system for accessing criminal histories over the Internet. But most of the technology action happens behind the scenes, like streamlining tax filings and automating social services. Illinois even offers online fishing licenses. Illinois jumped from No. 49 only three years ago, largely because of political pressure and hefty state capital investment.