“Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today criticized a
plan in Massachusetts to force all state computer networks to move
to an open source format. The Massachusetts Information Technology
Division is proposing the Enterprise Information Technology
Architecture technology policy, which would mandate that state
agencies use only open source and open standard software by January
1, 2007.“‘It is bad procurement policy for any state to unilaterally
lock itself into one set of technologies,’ CAGW President Tom
Schatz said. ‘Agencies should be able to accept bids from any
company that can provide the desired product or service. Government
earns the best value for taxpayer dollars through a competitive,
transparent, and accountable bidding process…'”