MISSION
In 1994 IAC established the Telecommunications Shared Interest Group (SIG) to provide a forum where industry could collaborate with GSA as it developed its long-range FTS strategy -- an effort that contributed to the re-compete of the FTS 2000 contract. The government and industry executives who participated in this initiative found it to be extremely valuable and recommended the creation of similar SIGs to address other issues of importance to the government IT community. Today, there are nine Shared Interest Groups.
The purpose of the SIGs is to develop and maintain forums for the open exchange of information among the IAC member companies, both within and among SIGs, the IAC membership and the government IT community.
The SIGs exist to provide an objective, vendor-neutral and ethical forum to address information technology issues of common interest to government and industry. The SIGs primary focus is on the creation of content that helps public servants better address the changing challenges in delivering quality products and services to their customers and ultimately the American citizens they serve.
PRINCIPLES
SIGs operate in accordance with the following general principles:
a. Issues on the SIG agenda are to be based upon the high priority issues on the federal government’s agenda as
determined by ACT and IAC SIG Leadership.
b. SIG products may include best practices, ethics, performance measures and strategies affecting government IT
acquisition and management, technology trends and policy alternatives.
c. SIG products and activities shall be vendor, product and technology neutral.
d. The SIG forum will be objective, professional, ethical, transparent and open to all interested parties.
e. SIG participants shall not use the SIG as a sales or business development forum.
f. Each SIG has a Government Advisory Panel (GAP) of government executives who have the expertise to advise
the SIG on such topics that will help them better address the top priority initiatives they face.
OPERATION
The SIG operating year runs from January 1 to December 31. In November, the industry participants in each SIG elect the SIG leadership for the coming year. After the election of the leadership, each SIG nominates government executives to serve on the SIG Government Advisory Panels.
Once the leadership is elected, the SIG develops its action plan for the year based upon the ACT government-wide strategic agenda and the advise of the SIG's Government Advisory Committee.
Participation in the SIGs is open to any IAC and ACT member in good standing.
During the year the SIGs will meet periodically with the ACT Board of Directors and IAC Executive Committee.
Periodically the SIG structure and agenda is reviewed to ensure relevance to the government's priorities. Such a review is taking place in 2009.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on the SIGs, contact John Shaw at jshaw@actgov.org or 703-208-4800 ext. 222