Bill would give free PCs to federal employees

All federal workers with at least one year of service would receive a free home computer and unlimited Internet access under a bill introduced by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Tuesday.

The "Federal Workforce Digital Access Act" (H.R. 4232) is modeled after similar programs recently unveiled in the private sector. In February, Ford Motor Co. and Delta Airlines announced they would offer home personal computers to all of their employees. American Airlines and Intel soon followed suit.

"Technology literacy has become not only a basic job requirement, but also a basic life skill," Cummings said. He said the bill would especially benefit employees who have limited contact with their computers in the workplace, such as law enforcement officers and mail room employees.

Cummings' bill would include an option for employees to receive Web-based training on unfamiliar technologies and software. "Internet-based training takes the fear and intimidation out of learning new and emerging technologies. The result is a technologically savvy and creative employee that can not only support e-government, but can help to create and develop it," Cummings said.

The government is having difficulty meeting its demands for skilled IT workers, Cummings noted. The bill aims to help agencies overcome the competitive disadvantage they face in attracting candidates and to advance IT job skills in the rest of the federal workforce.

The bill would also promote a more skilled federal workforce at a time when technology is being emphasized as the future of government, Cummings said. "To support e-government, you must have an e-workforce."

Under the bill, the General Services Administration would negotiate contracts to purchase the PCs, and the Office of Personnel Management would be responsible for setting guidelines, monitoring training and promoting the program across government.

Under the bill, funds for the computers, Internet access and administrative costs would be appropriated annually by each agency. Based on the Ford and Delta programs, Government Reform Committee staffers estimate that the program would cost about $800 per person. With a workforce of approximately 1.8 million, that would amount to more than $1 billion over three years.

After three years, the Office of Management and Budget would be required to evaluate the program, reporting on its impact on productivity, work flexibilities, communications and more.

Olga Grkavac, executive vice president of the Information Technology Association of America, agreed in principle with the bill, but expressed concern about its costs. "It's essential to be part of the information age, but federal funding is finite," she said.

"The goal is one that everybody would support, but we're concerned that there are also some key federal programs that people depend on for security and safety that are antiquated. Those should also be a goal," Grkavac said.