The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s program to improve the state’s broadband connectivity will continue despite its contractor’s sudden declaration of bankruptcy, according Brian Noyes, Mass Tech’s director of research and communications.

The RAND Corporation released a study on the costs of direct-to-consumer telehealth services. The study found that direct-to-consumer telehealth may actually drive up medical spending rather than reduce costs, due to the increased convenience.

CityGrows is a cloud-based workflow and transparency platform for local governments. With a focus on helping governments transition from paper-based processes to a digital platform, CityGrows improves the experience of interacting with public services for constituents and government employees, while also increasing public access to information about how government works.

Cities need to develop open data policies, but that’s easier said than done. The Sunlight Foundation, a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses technology and policy analysis to improve government transparency and accountability, recently released a free Open Data Policy Wizard.

Active shooter situations are becoming increasingly common, with 142 school shootings in the United States since 2013. 21st Century State & Local talked to four active shooter solution providers to understand what technology is available to schools and colleges and the importance of deploying technology before there is an incident.

Chris Connors, CEO of Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), stressed the importance of having zero false alerts with shot detection technology. SDS’s solution, dubbed the Guardian Indoor Active Shooter Detection System, boasts zero false alerts during its more than 16 million hours of use across the world. “It’s a major event when the sensor goes off, and we have to be right every time,” Connors said.

COPsync911 uses teacher- and staff-driven school safety tools to help improve communication between law enforcement and schools and reduce law enforcement response times during a violent situation.

ShotPoint, from Databuoy, is happy to run in the background of existing security technologies, according to company president and founder Kathleen Griggs. The shot location technology is designed to run in the background of existing security solutions, making it easy to implement and deploy. In an interview with 21st Century State & Local, Griggs explained that her company’s patented sensor mesh approach sets it apart from competitors.

SST’s SecureCampus uses sensors, the cloud, and occasionally trained experts to detect gunshots and then notify the police.

21st Century State & Local conducted an exclusive Q&A with John Dunlap, West Virginia’s newly minted chief technology officer, to see how he plans to address the IT issues that confront his state.