[Commentary] The US Conference of Mayors made a list of 18,750 local infrastructure projects from 779 cities of all sizes. The collection amounts to infrastructure investments worth $149.8 billion that carry a promise of 1.6 million jobs. All the projects were ready to go. But the Center for Digital Government studied the conference's report to see how IT fared. It identified 107 IT-specific projects valued at $287,977,622 that promise to create 2,092 jobs. In this subgroup, nine cities have as-yet-unfunded plans for broadband network installations - some for public safety, libraries and citywide access. The projects have a combined $106 million price tag and bring the prospect of 800 new jobs and new public wireless infrastructure. The list's other 98 IT-specific projects are a grab bag of things that haven't attracted local funding, but together represent a $182 million need that's gone begging. Unlike the broadband projects, these projects have a decidedly blocking and tackling feel to them. There are requests to replace and upgrade aging hardware and software for police departments, libraries and schools.
