Internet-restriction bill draws protest

Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian, fearing that pending state legislation could dramatically restrict services local governments provide over the Internet, asked the county council Tuesday night to voice opposition to the bill.

The council's administrative committee voted unanimously to support the resolution. The council will vote on the matter in two weeks.

The Electronic Government Services Act seeks to stop local government from offering "information technology-based services" such as online bill payments or satellite mapping that are provided by private companies.

Known as House Bill 3513, it states that if the private sector offers electronic services to the public, the government cannot offer the same services. The intent is to protect the private sector from unfair government competition, the bill states.

The way Mr. Killian sees it, that could seriously jeopardize the expensive satellite and aerial mapping of Aiken County that officials are preparing to put online in the fall.

The cities of Aiken and North Augusta already offer the online mapping, which gives Internet users free access to zoning information and plot boundaries.

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In the worst-case scenario, Mr. Killian said, someone could copy taxpayer-funded mapping from counties and cities and begin providing it for a fee, which would force governments to stop providing it.

"Why should citizens pay for it a second time?" he said.

The act could also stop local governments from offering online fee payments, Mr. Killian said, which the county is interested in starting and North Augusta already offers.

The bill was put forward in February by state Reps. Liston Barfield and Alan Clemmons, Republicans from Horry County. Neither returned telephone messages Tuesday seeking comment.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 279-6895 or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Wednesday, April 2, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle