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2017 FROM A TO Z / NEW ADMINISTRATION, NEW REGULATIONS

December 18, 2017

Government Technology Magazine has an article regarding the changes in 2017 with the new administration in office. Included in the article is Michael B Hancock,, Denver Mayor, and Peña Station Next.

2017 saw the country edge ever closer to mass use of self-driving vehicles on public roadways. In January, the U.S. Department of Transportation named 10 test sites that will together form a “Community of Practice” to advance the tech behind autonomous and connected cars. Guidance for local government came from the National League of Cities in April, which directed members to grab a seat at the table, and staff it with experts from IT, procurement and transportation.

The civic tech community met in San Francisco on the eve of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, where Code for America founder Jennifer Pahlka reminded attendees of the enduring importance of using tech to improve how government serves its people. Concerns about what the election might mean for recent tech progress persisted throughout the year, as leaders in gov tech watched open data disappear from federal websites. Government staff also grappled with enforcing policies they didn’t agree with, like a presidential commission request for detailed voter data, which many feared would be used to restrict access to the vote.

Government took a more prominent seat at the table at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, where policymakers participated alongside the private sector to ponder emerging technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, sensors and smart cities. For example, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock talked about Peña Station Next, a mixed-use connected development that prioritizes sustainability with smart lighting as well as plans for driverless shuttles and a quarter-mile LED welcome sign that connects the area to the adjacent airport.

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