On April 22, 1997, the State of Georgia enacted its Electronic Records and Signatures Act. The Act's stated legislative purpose is "to promote economic development and efficient delivery of government services by encouraging state governmental agencies and private sector entities to conduct their business and transactions using electronic media." O.C.G.A. s 50-29-12(a). To facilitate this purpose, the Act creates a pilot project program.

[Pilot] projects shall consider both commercial and government applications, be inclusive of major categories of electronic signature technology, and be established through a request for proposal process. The pilot projects are intended to provide a proof of concept for the application of technology, such as electronic signatures, and to serve to educate the General Assembly and the public at large as to the benefits of electronic signatures as well as the role of state government in any future regulatory capacity.

O.C.G.A. s 50-29-12(b).

On July 21, 1997, Governor Zell Miller opened the request for proposal process. Proposals from submitting entities were due on September 16, 1997 and were approved by the Georgia Information Technology Policy Council (ITPC). Seven pilot projects were approved.

Georgia State University, Electronic Court Filing Project, First Union, and IXL, Inc. (an Atlanta company) were selected for pilots.

The ITPC's request for proposal stated the following as public policy questions to be addressed through the use of pilot projects:

1. Is there a need for a State-supported Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)? Under what conditions would the state utilize such an infrastructure vs. a commercial PKI?

2. What is the role, if any, of the State in licensing or accrediting Certification Authorities or other service providers that are part of an electronic signatures transaction? Should the state establish detailed standards in areas of liability and bonding or delegate such authority to an agency such as the Secretary of State?

3. Based on the results of the NASIRE test, what are the opportunities to collaborate with a consortium of states in providing PKI services in the most effective manner possible?

4. In the eyes of our private sector partners, what are the major road blocks to the use of electronic signatures; first, that government should avoid as we become involved in any form of regulation or licensing, and, second, that we might help remove outside of any government involvement?

5. What applications will most likely involve Federal participation and standards? What should the state be doing to ensure future coordination and interoperability with Federal programs?

6. What cost/benefit criteria should the state utilize in considering investments in secure Internet applications?

7. What infrastructure investments should the State make to accommodate greater use of the Internet and electronic signatures technology?