What’s Changed?

The twenty first century has been about downloading data. Cataloguing, accessing, and downloading data. This has resulted in a great deal of innovation. On September 7, 2010 the FCC added the next play to the playbook with the release of www.FCC.gov/developer. I believe this is significant for a couple of reasons. First, data is still available for download. The FCC did not change course and begin offering a new service to replace one they already provided (download). They simply added to the playbook. Second, the release of the developer API’s opened the door for more innovation to occur. The API’s were provided with a number of ways to make calls to them. This will allow innovators to access the API’s in a manner they are accustom too.

The challenge- finding the niche and sustaining the system. It is critical that FCC quickly determine what API’s developers are finding useful and which ones need additional work. In other words; the success of www.FCC.gov/developer will hinge on the FCC’s ability to work with the developer community not just provide another way to access information. After all, isn’t bi-directional communication what Gov 2.0 is all about?

Learon Dalby currently serves as the GIS Program Manager in the Arkansas Geographic Information Office. He is responsible for managing a number of statewide incentives focused at providing open access to GIS data.