First APPNation Conference highlights San Francisco as center of fast-growing app economy.

Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined regional and national app developers at the inaugural APPNation Conference to announce new open data legislation. The new “OpenGov” legislation aims to enhance open government, transparency, and accountability by requiring City agencies and departments to provide permanent data sources.

“San Francisco’s world class technology community will take City data we collect and develop new and innovative applications that will serve the public better and transform government,” said Mayor Newsom. “This new legislation not only fundamentally changes how we think about City government departments and the data they collect, but also leverages existing resources to improve the quality of life, stimulate industry and even create jobs in the booming software application industry.”

In 2009, Mayor Newsom issued an Open Data Executive Directive requiring City departments to make all non-confidential datasets under their authority available on DataSF.org, the city’s one stop web site for government data. More than 50 applications have been created from the City’s data (including Routesy, SFPark, CrimeMapping and Mom Maps) and are featured in the DataSF App Showcase (datasf.org/showcase). There are dozens more in the pipeline. Read more.

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Mayor Newsom today announced the award of a $50.6 million grant to build a broadband communications network for Bay Area public safety agencies.  This network is one the first of its kind in the nation to be built utilizing the 700MHz spectrum, recently vacated by television stations.

The grant will fund the Bay Area Wireless Enhanced Broadband (BayWEB) project, which will provide Bay Area emergency responders with a dedicated and prioritized broadband communications system.  The system will allow fire, police and other public safety officials to transmit information more quickly and efficiently, during both day-to-day operations and major emergencies.  For example, new broadband applications can enable responders to view the layout of a burning building before entering it or transmit video images from an accident scene.

“When a major earthquake or disaster strikes next in the Bay Area, a regional, secure and dedicated communications network for our first responders will literally save lives, prevent further damage and protect public health and safety,” said Mayor Newsom. “I am proud that, working together with cities and our public safety and law enforcement agencies throughout the region, the Bay Area will now be one of the nation’s first regions to deploy this innovative emergency broadband communications network.”

Mayor Gavin Newsom joined the Board of Supervisors in support of a resolution urging the Department of Technology (DT) to respond to Google’s Request for Information (RFI) with a proposal to build a fiber broadband network in San Francisco. Last month, Google announced plans to install one Gigabit fiber networks in select cities throughout the country. Interested communities have until March 26, 2010 to reply.

“High speed broadband Internet access will determine which cities thrive in the new economy. San Francisco has the opportunity to close the digital divide and create thousands of new jobs by deploying this network,” said Mayor Newsom. “I join the Board of Supervisors in support of this resolution to bring a next generation broadband network to San Francisco.” Read more

President Obama’s Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra praises collaboration with Boston, Washington, DC, and other cities

03/03/10 – Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom was joined by President Obama’s Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra to launch a national Open311 API (Application Programming Interface) that will transform 311 Customer Service Centers into tools of even greater value. Open311 will allow software developers to write web applications that do two things: 1) get service request data directly from the 311 system, and 2) submit new service requests to city departments. Read more

Chief Technology Officer for State of California Applauds City Efforts

01/22/10 – Today, Mayor Newsom and Supervisor David Chiu announced the nation’s first open source software policy for city government, building on President Obama’s call for more open and transparent government. The new policy requires city departments to consider open source software equally with commercial products when purchasing new software over $100,000.

“Open source software is created by the people for the people and as such is ideal for government,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Our new Open Source policy has the potential to save the City millions in software costs while fundamentally changing the way government operates.” Read more