Why Every Federal Agency is a Technology Agency
Evan Janis, former Senior Consultant
Washington, D.C.
COVID-19 changed the way that most federal agencies do business overnight. In March 2020, the federal government adopted the public health protocol of physical distancing, sending thousands of federal workers and contractors to work from home. It was as if a light switch had been flicked and with it came the big question: how would the government operate without an onsite presence?
Agencies had historically operated with an in-person approach that emphasized face-to-face interactions among government partners and with the public. This was no longer possible with the “work from home” mandate to ensure proper physical distancing. Employees quickly shifted to home offices and agencies swiftly worked to try to support the rapid influx of digital tools needed by remote users. “Digital is now the new normal,” said Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, Senior Fellow and the Director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. The need for physical distance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 quickly brought broadband to the forefront of agencies' challenges and served as a top priority. As she put it, “This social distancing has made broadband become an instant sensation.”
On Corner Alliance’s recent “Investing in Our Future” webinar, Dr. Turner-Lee noted the possibility of federal agencies becoming more accessible to the public through technological innovation. Government services will continue to expand their reliance on web-facing and cloud-based solutions, which affords more people more access. Though, Dr. Turner-Lee emphasized that federal agencies must concentrate on overcoming connectivity barriers nationwide to ensure existing solutions can be accessed regardless of location.
Investing in our future
The digital divide that federal agencies must address requires significant funding and a plan. On the webinar Dr. Turner-Lee called for a “technology new deal.” Dr. Turner-Lee elaborated, “That's been the challenge in the U.S. Broadband has not been a core part of the main tools to achieve economic stability and educational advancement, or even stabilize the public health of people that live in our society.”
Dr. Turner-Lee detailed the needed investment in not just infrastructure such as broadband and 5G, but also an investment in the workforce. “The digital divide is one of those areas where technology is not just about passive consumption anymore. It’s actively producing the next generation of products for our economy.” For federal agencies, this means the expansion of grant programs for accessible and affordable broadband as well as the hardware needed to support it. Routers, cellular towers, backhauls, and even devices are needed. It also means investing in grassroots outreach and engagement to train the workforce in how to use the infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved communities in which technology is not widely accessible. This two-pronged approach is key because the existence of infrastructure does not necessarily result in the effective use of it.
A more online, more accessible federal government
The pandemic has demonstrated that decades of innovation have laid a functional foundation for a more online, more accessible federal government. Further investment in closing the digital divide will position federal agencies to better and more quickly deliver services to communities across the nation through accessible and digital platforms. Content, information collection forms, and communication could all be delivered to the public in minutes instead of days or weeks. A reliance on branch locations for in-person services would be reduced in favor of teleconferencing and self-service portals. Routine services, such as obtaining a passport, could be expedited, more accommodating, and more accessible for the public and for the government office.
By prioritizing equitable broadband expansion, the federal government can increase its efficiency while expanding access and services to previously underserved and unconnected populations. Moreover, the investment could expand federal efforts to protect privacy and sensitive data. This would ensure that shifting federal services online would be more secure and more accommodating for end-users and easier for the federal government to maintain at scale.
This new investment in broadband expansion would also support a decentralized federal workforce that is more diverse and flexible to change. Talent across the nation could be accessed and would not be constrained by different workplace restrictions. Federal services would not have to be constrained to heavily populated urban areas where branches are currently located. Rural communities could obtain quicker access to federal services and expanded career opportunities. The “work from home” model, which exists today due to the pandemic, helps prove this is possible and can be even more successful with a targeted federal investment.
Our next conversation
With ten plus years of experience in this domain, Corner Alliance is here to help federal agencies navigate this challenge to close the digital divide. We use our proven and customizable stakeholder-driven approach to deliver solutions aligned with our client’s mission. Read more insights from the “Investing in Our Future” webinar and sign up to attend the next conversation here.
Author
Evan Janis, PMP, former Senior Consultant supporting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), has a mission to build trusted relationships that empower teams to tackle the challenges that the government faces. Before joining Corner Alliance, he spent 10+ years supporting public safety across all levels of government.