Magazine blows the lid off of government IT program

Government Computer News, an industry publication owned by the Washington Post Co., has an investigative story in its latest issue that blows the lid off of how contractors and consultants have colluded with school officials to steal millions of dollars from a government program designed to bring Internet access and telecommunications equipment to schools.

It’s this type of investigative business reporting that is often done more in specialty magazines and newsletters than what you see in daily newspapers despite the fact that many journalists have this perception of such publications as being too friendly with the industries they cover.

The Government Computer News report was based on interviews with law enforcement officials, government and private attorneys, FCC officials, vendors and others involved in the E-Rate program over several weeks.

The story, written by Wilsen P. Dizard III, can be read here. I’d be willing to bet that the E-Rate program is in virtually every state in the country, but very little has been written about it.