About the IT Task Force

The Florida Legislature created The Information Service Development Technology Taskforce (IT Task Force) in June 1999 to focus on the development of state policies that would enable Florida to compete successfully in the information age. The IT Task Force guided the development and success of Florida's internet policy, infrastructure, community access and overall economic development. In developing recommendations, the IT Task Force received additional technical assistance from experts in the public and private sector fields that facilitated in the development of these policy recommendations. The IT Task Force statutorily dissolved June 30, 2001.

Legislative Successes

The Task Force has had many important successes with its recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. These include:

• Marketing - Legislation requiring the creation of a high-tech worker jobs portal.
• NAPs - Legislation promoting the development of network access points (NAPs) in Florida.
• Tax Exemptions - Legislation providing tax exemptions for equipment used in broadband deployment.
• Single Government Portal - Legislation responsible for the implementation of a single portal strategy, www.MyFlorida.com, for state government.
• Access to Technology - Legislation enabling greater access to technology for the economically disadvantaged.
• Marketing - Legislation requiring that Enterprise Florida engage in an aggressive marketing campaign designed to help attract, develop, and retain technology businesses in Florida.
• Workforce - Legislation, requiring the Agency for Workforce Innovation, in consultation with the State Technology Office, to develop a high-tech worker jobs portal.

ITFlorida Continues Mandate

As required by statute, the Task Force dissolved on July 1, 2001. However, recognizing the need for a single statewide organization to represent Florida as a whole by capitalizing and building on the momentum the Task Force has created, ITFlorida, a not-for-profit Florida corporation was established. ITFlorida is carrying on the mandate of the Task Force. ITFlorida is also providing support for regional/local initiatives by becoming a unified voice for their concerns and issues and will be promoting Florida as a place for technology-based companies to locate and grow.