Andersen Weaves Web Help for GOP Convention

By Nick Wakeman, Staff Writer


JULY 28 ? When GOP delegates take the floor in Philadelphia July 31 to begin the process of nominating George W. Bush as the Republican presidential nominee, they also will be part of the first Internet-based political convention.


With the help of Andersen Consulting, the Grand Old Party will use the Internet to help delegates register for housing and aid the media in accessing speech and calendar content from their laptop computers. A Web site, www.gopconvention.com, also will allow users to follow convention activities, read or watch speeches and even share opinions with those at the convention.


While Andersen officials would not disclose the value of the project, the Chicago-based firm is leading a team of 20 subcontractors that include AT&T Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Global Crossing Ltd., Nortel Networks Corp. and Verizon Communications.


"What we've done is equivalent to building a town for 15,000 residents and 40,000 commuters starting from a dirt road in only 41 days," said Andersen's Dean Griffith, who is leading the effort.


For Andersen, the project also highlights how the Internet can be used to give citizens greater access to their government, said Stephen Rohleder, Andersen's managing partner for U.S. government and higher education.


The Internet has changed the way customers and businesses interact, and "now technology is on the verge of having the same impact on the relationship between citizens and government agencies," he said. "This will be the most accessible political convention ever held."