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Is It Time to Virtualize Washington D.C.? Telework Might Be the Answer.

With all the acrimony in Washington D.C., there must be a better way to move things forward, particularly with the economy. The above interview with Cliff Albertson of Badger Communications is reminiscent of that political phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” He explains that the MTA and its the economic development committee is helping to raise awareness of and is actively engaged in helping its members bring jobs to the rural areas they serve.

Albertson points out that, due to the excellent broadband networks, highly skilled workforce and the high quality of life of the areas they serve, MTA members provide excellent telework opportunities for employers. An example he cites is Park Region and the 1,000+ teleworkers it serves. Teleworking is important not only for the aforementioned reasons, but also for things such as disaster recovery and diversity. As Albertson alludes to in the above video, Brent Christensen makes a strong argument for telecommuting in this Minnesota Star Tribune editorial.

Which leads to the concept Albertson mentions regarding the decentralization or virtualization of Washington D.C. He references a bill by Representative Steve Pearce of New Mexico that would send Congress back home and use telecommunications’ tools to communicate in a virtual way with other members, while allowing representatives to be physically closer to the people who elected them. This is long-shot legislation, but perhaps it could be a first step to decentralizing the entire Washington D.C. ecosystem that has grown up around the federal purse.

One response to “Is It Time to Virtualize Washington D.C.? Telework Might Be the Answer.”

  1. […] Is Time to Virtualize Washington D.C.? Telework Might Be the Answer […]

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