Authorizing City Council's Committee on Technology and Information Services to hold hearings on the adequacy of the city's internet and e-mail services, the feasibility of a separate internet server for City Council and how improvements in speed and additional business functionality will enhance the ability of city employees to efficiently and effectively serve the citizens of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, A smooth operating internet and e-mail system are necessities in the global economy of the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia strives to become a world-class city for residents, businesses and visitors; and

WHEREAS, E-mail and the internet are the most cost-effective tools for conducting business and have reached into every facet of every day life including shopping, banking and even checking out library books; and

WHEREAS, city employees on a regular basis have experienced internet slow response time, internet unreliability and the inability to perform basic functions; and

WHEREAS, The City Council uses the same internet server as the Administration, which causes numerous problems which might be addressed through redundancy of services or a completely separate server; and

WHEREAS, City Council is unlike most other legislative bodies in the Commonwealth and throughout the nation that have separate servers and internet service for each branch of government, now therefore

RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA

, that it hereby authorizes City Council's Committee on Technology and Information Services to hold hearings on the adequacy of the city's internet and e-mail services, the feasibility of a separate internet server for City Council and how improvements in speed and additional business functionality will enhance the ability of city employees to efficiently and effectively serve the citizens of Philadelphia.

End