Vermont Adopts Open Source Software Policy

“Vermont has become the latest government to enact an open
source software policy, after Secretary of Administration Neale F.
Lunderville recently signed a policy developed under state CIO
David Tucker’s leadership.

“The policy says the Vermont Department of Information and
Innovation and other departments should look at open source
solutions as part of the procurement process, and are directed to
calculate the total cost of ownership for an open source system,
including “fixed costs (direct purchases and licensing) and
operational costs for support, testing, upgrades, maintenance and
training,” as part of the procurement process.

“Tucker told Government Technology that the idea for a policy
began last summer, when as deputy CIO he originated a process for
examining open source because there weren’t any existing
guidelines. So when Tucker became CIO late last year, he convened a
council that met several times and gave input on the new
policy.”

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