The Michigan Information Technology Commission is being sponsored and led by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, and the Council of Michigan Foundations as a service to citizens of Michigan. It is being established in an attempt to create and launch a cohesive response to the forces of change that are contributing to one of the most dynamic transformational times in history. Those forces – particularly rapidly evolving information and communications technologies – are significantly impacting every facet of life. Furthermore, the evolution of new technologies providing instant access to information and knowledge will only grow and expand more quickly. New communities are forming every minute, crossing traditional boundaries that have divided and segregated people since the beginning of humankind. This movement is having a profound impact on the lives of Michiganians and demonstrates significant potential for acilitating improved learning and work environments in today’s increasingly competitive and complex world.

The Commission is comprised of 44 members representing key stakeholder groups within the state from the public, commercial, and nonprofit sectors. Members were selected based upon their knowledge of this field, their demonstrated capacity for visionary leadership, and/or their demonstrated capacity to represent the thinking of distinct segments of Michigan society.

The Commission began its work in January 1998 and will issue a concise report no later than June 1998. In fulfilling its charge, the Commission will draw upon the significant work already completed or under way throughout the state. It also will call upon state and national experts and visionaries from both the public and private sectors, including those from organizations dedicated to the research, development, and application of these technologies. This counsel will be valuable in establishing the framework for activities and initiatives that, if undertaken, will serve Michigan’s information and knowledge needs well into the future.