I am here at the LSC TIG (Technology Initiative Grants) program conference in New Mexico, and want to take the opportunity to celebrate that community and suggest how we should build on its achievements.

Lets start the conversation about how to take full advantage of what has been done, and what comes next:

First, let me suggest that LSC should cost out spreading throughout the country a complete layer of the core online capacities — informational websites, document assembly of the key access to justice documents, and online support — and should think about a multi-year budget to bring everyone up to a national standard.

Second, we need to be pushing more on a cluster of next generation technologies, and systematically pilot a number of experiments in these areas, at the least:

• Social media,
• Data mining,
• Mobile access,
• Broadband
• and online learning.

These pilots should be learning environment for the whole community, not just individual programs and projects.

These should be done in as broad collaboration as possible with national and state court partners, as well as others.

Let me remind courts and other non-LSC folks that while LSC TIG grants have traditionally gone to LSC programs, LSC strongly encourages close partnership with courts, the bar, and others.

Everyone should know that the conference committee language accompanying the appropriation, as linked above, includes the following language:

What does everyone else think about all of this?  Lets spread ideas for the next generation.