As requested by elementC, here's the response I got from Rep. Putnam when I asked him why the US spends so much on software (there are craptons of government comps out there) and not OSS (in general). Didn't really expect anything, but this was a decent email I think. Chris ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Cong. Adam Putnam <<a href="mailto:imafl12@mail.house.gov">imafl12@mail.house.gov</a>> Date: Jun 1, 2007 3:36 PM Subject: Responding to your message to Rep. Putnam To: <a href="mailto:christopher.rohde@gmail.com">christopher.rohde@gmail.com</a> Dear Mr. Rohde: Thank you for your recent email to my office concerning open source software, and of course for your service to our nation as a Marine.  I believe strongly that every Marine is a leader and so of course it was no surprise that you wrote on the future of technology applications as it relates to all Americans. First and foremost, I believe that open source software is becoming a more important tool in the marketplace for individuals at home as well as businesses and the government.  You will be glad to know that the Department of Defense and many federal agencies have recognized the benefit of open source software and utilize it in many ways. The official U.S. federal government policy regarding the use of open source software by government agencies are described in a July 2004 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum on software acquisition, M-04-16 Memoranda for Senior Procurement Executives, Chief Information Officers, Software Acquisition.  The memorandum states that the policies guiding government information technology investment decisions are "technology and vendor neutral" and that agencies' technology choices "must be consistent with the agency's enterprise architecture and the Federal Enterprise Architecture." Agencies are also instructed to take into account a number of other merit-based factors, including information security, licensing requirements, and total cost of ownership. Implicit in these requirements is an expectation that agencies will also make choices based on the quality of the product. The growing emphasis on improved information security and critical infrastructure protection overall, will likely be an influential factor in future decisions to implement open source solutions. The rapidly changing computer environment may also foster the use of a combination of open source and closed source applications, rather than creating a need to choose one option at the exclusion of another. The use of open source software by the federal government has been gaining attention as organizations continue to search for opportunities to enhance their information technology (IT) operations while containing costs.  A growing number of state and local governments have also been exploring the official adoption of open source software.  For the federal government and Congress, the debate over the use of open source software intersects several issues, including, but not limited to, the development of homeland security and e-government initiatives, improving government information technology management practices, strengthening computer security, and protecting intellectual property rights.  In the 110th Congress, I expect the debate over open source software to revolve primarily around information security and intellectual property rights, including the possible development of a legal definition of open source software. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me.  I hope you will always contact me with your thoughts and concerns on this issue or any other. Semper fi, Sincerely, Adam Putnam Member of Congress -- Christopher Rohde <a href="http://veritastic.net">http://veritastic.net</a>      w:   863-644-1999      c:   863-885-1229