The Virginia Information Providers Network

The Vision
A Single, Common Gateway to Government

The Virginia Information Providers Network (VIPNet) was created to help the Commonwealth streamline and enhance the ways in which citizens and businesses access government information.  The VIPNet initiative reflects Governor Gilmore's vision of a state government that is compatible with Virginia's role as a global information technology leader.  The vision of VIPNet is to establish a single, common gateway to government information that will improve access to free information, while at the same time, build value-added services for commercially-viable information that is of interest to the business community.

VIPNet is a revolutionary concept in the way government, businesses, educational institutions, and private citizens work together to accomplish common goals. VIPNet is an interactive information and transaction system designed to make communication with government quicker and more convenient for residents and businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

The Strategy
A Model of Public/Private Cooperation

VIPNet is purposefully designed so that it will not require new state tax dollars to develop electronic information access or electronic commerce applications. VIPNet is a model example of a government service that benefits from the entrepreneurial spirit and efficiencies found in the private sector. Minimal user fees generated through enhanced access applications to commercially viable information are used to fund the Network. The revenue from these few applications will help fund hundreds of free information services that will be developed to benefit both private citizens and businesses.

The development and promotion of VIPNet will be facilitated through the use of task forces comprised of state agencies, professional associations, business leaders, educators, and citizens. VIPNet will listen to the needs of each constituency and then work to develop new applications and transactions to meet their needs. These task forces will help establish the need for information and interactive transaction services, design the appearance and layout of interactive output, provide input on policies, and provide input on the nature of any fees that may apply to new business related interactive application.

The Architecture
Internet-Based Technology

The demand for information by the public and by business is being satisfied in great part by a unique information dissemination mechanism called the Internet. In just a few short years, the Internet has grown from a fledgling text-based network into a fundamental and pervasive graphical information tool for society.

Internet technology is now allowing citizens to be only a few "clicks," instead of many miles, away from government information and services.

The Commonwealth of Virginia has been very aggressive in taking advantage of the capabilities that the Internet has to offer. Now, with the creation of the VIPNet, the Commonwealth is taking an orchestrated, forward-thinking, and coordinated approach to maximizing both the capabilities of the Internet and the collective resources of the Commonwealth.

The Goal
Fiscally Responsible Government Delivering More Services

Businesses compete in marketplaces where they must have immediate access to information from a variety of sources in order to remain competitive. Government must be responsive to these information needs. At the same time, government must be able to meet the vast information and educational needs of the general public.  By leveraging its ability to develop commercially-viable applications for business, the Commonwealth can build a robust network that serves all citizens.

VIPNet is pursuing a three-phased goal to help enhance education and economic development in the Commonwealth.

Phase I involves increasing the amount of electronic information available. Phase II calls for making transactions with government more interactive, more virtual. Phase III focuses on helping the Commonwealth capitalize on the explosion in electronic commerce.