Creation of CNMI portal eyed

The dream of an Internet-savvy CNMI community is now one step closer to fruition.

The legislature is mulling to legislate a measure that envisions to make all government and private services and business accessible over the Internet.

Under House Bill 12-337, the CNMI government is mandated to select a vendor that would establish, develop, operate and maintain and expand an Internet portal for the purpose of increasing electronic access and commerce among CNMI residents, businesses and government entities.

An Internet portal is an expanded Website that has search capabilities for specific content. In the CNMI Internet portal’s case, the content would be limited to government agencies, businesses and other entities that has something to do with the Commonwealth.

The bill requires that the CNMI government award the contract through Request-for-Proposal within 180 working days of the Act’s approval.

Aside from the development of a CNMI portal, HB 12-337 also seeks the establishment of an oversight committee known as the Access CNMI Committee to review and approve the development and operation of the Internet portal for electronic services.

The measure also calls for the body to assist the public library system throughout the CNMI in providing access to the portal. If passed into law, the bill would be the most important piece of legislation yet to promote electronic commerce and Internet access to everyone.

Under the proposed measure, the CNMI would not bear the cost of the development of the envisioned platform.

The portal manager would also be responsible for capital outlays such as hardware, software, portal infrastructure, administration, operations, systems, analysis, programming, delivery of services, training, marketing, collection and distribution of payments and a help desk.

The Legislature also expects that with the portal manager in place, additional electronic government applications should be made available on a regular basis, with the public library systems providing primary access for its citizens seeking Internet access.

HB 12-337 also calls for the portal manager to coalesce with entities such as the Northern Marianas College, University of Guam, University of Hawaii and other public and private schools throughout the CNMI.

In exchange for shouldering the development and operational cost of the CNMI portal, the portal manager will retain all the charges from value added electronic services introduced in the Web site/search engine.