Neighborhood America's Technology Changing How Florida Public's Business is Done.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers NAPLES, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2002 With increasing diversity, mobility, and demanding schedules of the public today, government officials have a difficult time communicating to their constituents and gaining their input into important projects and initiatives. Traditional forms of public communication and participation, such as public meetings or workshops, do not fully meet the needs of the citizens being served. The US Conference of Mayors has reported that 85% of the public "have never attended a public hearing or gone to a council meeting." In Florida, however, the traditional approach is being enhanced via the Internet. Naples-based technology company Neighborhood America Neighborhood America is a provider of enterprise social networks for businesses, media and government organizations. The company’s solutions are delivered on a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, allowing the access and moderation of user submitted content to take place (http://www.neighborhoodamerica.com) has developed a Public Communications System In telecommunication, a communications system is a collection of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment (DTE) usually capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole. (TM) that is currently being used by communities throughout the state. Neighborhood America's Web-based Public Communications System(TM) (PCS (1) (Personal Communications Services) Refers to wireless services that emerged after the U.S. government auctioned commercial licenses in 1994 and 1995. This radio spectrum in the 1. ) is increasing public involvement in important government projects and public-private initiatives. The system is used in more than 40 major public planning, environmental, transportation and visioning projects in 12 states --including New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. where it is being used to gain public input toward the rebuilding of the World Trade Center (http://www.imaginenewyork.com). The PCS provides information, communication and collaboration tools to engage the public and assist project teams and stakeholders. The system requires no special software, so access to information and communication can be conducted through any Web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. . The system enables the public and private sectors to reach a broad stakeholder group. It also helps capture comments and opinions from those citizens who may not be able to or desire to attend forums, meetings, write letters, or make phone calls regarding a project or issue. Florida communities using the PCS to involve the public and improve project collaboration include a five-county economic development planning project in Central Florida
Central Florida is the central region of the United States state of Florida, on the East Coast. known as myRegion.org (http://www.myregion.org) where the public has downloaded more than 150,000 project documents; a transportation planning Transportation planning is the field involved with the siting of transportation facilities (generally streets, highways, sidewalks, bike lanes and public transport lines). initiative in Broward County (http://www.universitydriveext.com); "Imagine Manatee" visioning project in Manatee County (http://www.imaginemanatee.org); Hillsborough County's Town 'N Country Master Plan (http://www.hccommunityplanning.com); and mass transit mass transit, public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers. Types and Advantages Mass transit refers to municipal or regional public shared transportation, such as buses, streetcars, and ferries, open to all on a planning in Orlando (http://www.metroplanorlando.com). "The system has proven to be reliable and secure in supporting critical parts of the public communication process: outreach, involvement and collaboration," states Neighborhood America's President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Kim Kobza (kpkobza@neighborhoodamerica.com). For more information on the Public Communications System(TM), a demonstration of its use, or a list of project sites, please contact Neighborhood America. |
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