National IS strategy in the Czech Republic Vladimír Mlynář

Role of the state in IS  Education  Government as a model user of ICT - e-government services development  Legal definition of the information society  Support to new technologies  International cooperation

The Czech Republic in 2004  1/3 population ICT literate  Costs of fixed connection high, ADSL development slow  Mobile communications market well developed  Digital divide – towns vs. villages, youth vs. elderly people  Effective legal framework of the Information Society  E-government applications development – PA Portal

Fixed vs. mobile communications

Education  Internet for Schools project – 5 students / 1 PC  Priority support to IS-related university programmes  National Programme of Computer Literacy (PPP initiative)  “Home PC” project – tax deductions  Educational Portal  Goal: 50% ICT literate population within two years

E-government  Public Administration Portal (  Complete directory of state authorities and self- government  100 life events  Information services – laws, EU directives, official journals, regulations, orders, information from national registers  Transaction part – taxes, compulsory notifications/announcements

Legislation  Electronic Signatures Act  Free Access to Information Act  Personal Data Protection Act  Draft Act on Electronic Communications  Certain Aspects of Information Society Services Act  Amendments to business regulations to encourage e-commerce

PCs in enterprises

Support to New Technologies  Investment incentives for high-tech investors  Content services support for broadband  The government as a single, major customer – technological neutrality  Tax deductions for households and companies  Equal and transparent competitive environment in the telecommunications market

International cooperation  EU integration as an opportunity  Initiative to transfer broadband to the reduced VAT rate  Active participation in EU programmes  Structural Funds – infrastructure development  Experience sharing – best practices

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