Red Hat Memo on MA Open Document Format

[john.casebolt at theopenway.net (John Casebolt)]

All -

Attached find an email from Red Hat's EVP of Corporate Affairs on the  
ODF issue.
I hope to talk to Tom Rabon this week; if we need to come up with a  
letter-writing campaign strategy, I'd like to know if anyone on the  
list has started such an organized effort already.

Thanks,
JC



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Massachusetts Open Document Format Issue
Date: 	Sat, 05 Nov 2005 09:43:03 -0500
From: 	tom rabon <trabon at redhat.com>
To: 	memo-list at redhat.com



All,
	Many of you have expressed interest in the Massachusetts Open  
Document Format issue recently. As this issue has global  
ramifications I thought I would give you an update on the issue from  
Red Hat's perspective. In September, the Massachusetts Information  
Technology Division (an entity of the executive branch of government  
in Mass) implemented the Enterprise Technical Reference Model V. 3.5  
(ETRM) after considerable public comment. You can learn more about  
the ETRM at: http://www.mass.gov/Aitd/  .Generally speaking, the ETRM  
calls for Massachusetts state government documents to use the Open  
Document standard. The directive seeks to ensure the state's  
electronic records can easily be read, exchanged and modified now and  
in the future, free of licensing restrictions and compatibility  
problems as software evolves.
	As you might imagine, Microsoft is aggressively attempting to derail  
the ETRM directive. Because they have lost the battle with the  
executive branch of government in Massachusetts, they have  
successfully shifted the issue to the state legislature, where they  
have recruited some prominent champions for their position. On  
Monday, October 31st, a hearing was held in the Mass State Senate on  
this issue by Senator Mark Pacheco, who is the primary advocate for  
the Microsoft position. The hearing was very favorable to the  
Microsoft position. Red Hat's own Paul Cormier had asked to testify  
at the hearing, but he along with others from Sun, IBM, Adobe and  
others were not allowed to testify. (This is not unusual; we will  
have our opportunity to testify at a subsequent hearing). Later in  
the week, language was inserted into an Economic Stimulus Bill which   
could subjugate all IT procurements and decision making in the  
Commonwealth to a special task force. This language would have the  
effect of shifting IT procurement decisions from the executive branch  
of government to the legislative branch, a terrible decision, not  
only for software companies but all IT companies. As this is a  
separation of powers issue, if the Legislature approves this  
amendment, a court battle may follow.
	So you may ask, what is Red Hat doing to advocate our position on  
this important issue? First, we are a member of a coalition in  
support of the Mass ODF directive. Other prominent industry members  
include Sun, IBM, Novell and Adobe. We are working every day to  
strengthen our position by adding other members to our coalition.  
Secondly, we are advocating our position to the Massachusetts  
Legislature through letters and personal visits with legislators. And  
thirdly, we are active participants along with other companies and  
associations in a coalition to develop plans to introduce the idea of  
open documents formats to other US states and countries around the  
world. You may have read about media accounts this week about a  
meeting which was held at IBM headquarters in New York to begin to  
develop this global strategy.
	For those Red Hat associates who live or work in Massachusetts, we  
may be calling upon you to write letters, if you are so inclined, to  
selected Massachusetts state legislators in support of our position.  
I will let you know when it is appropriate to write the letters. For  
the rest of us who do not live or work in Massachusetts I would ask  
that you not write letters or emails to Massachusetts public  
officials. Out of state letters or emails have little, if any, impact  
and could be counterproductive. We believe that the issue of open  
document formats will become a major public policy issue in other  
venues over the next few months, so stay tuned. You will have your  
chance.
	I had the opportunity to do a presentation on OSS growth in  
government in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in September. I was asked about  
the situation in Massachusetts by several Malaysian government  
officials.  Paul Cormier got the same question on his recent visit to  
the Czech Republic. The eyes of the world are on Massachusetts. Rest  
assured Red Hat is doing its part to advocate open document formats,  
not only in Massachusetts, but around the world.  Thanks for your  
continuing interest in this important issue.

Regards,

Tom
	
	
Tom Rabon
Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs
Red Hat Inc
919/ 754 -3700  x44141
email: trabon at redhat.com

_______________________________________________

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John Casebolt - The Open Way, LLC
john.casebolt at theopenway.net
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