There are three motivating reasons to set up a central electronic counter. In the first place there is a growing need to co-ordinate the different initiatives. Secondly there is a growing need for the citizens to have one central access point and to create search possibilities. In the third place other distribution channels will be used in the near future as interactive television and kiosks, enlarging the potential user group tremendously.
Analysis of interviews with the public information departments of the ministries shows great differences in expected benefits from the central electronic counter. Some ministries see it as a facilitator others as a directing instrument. This analyses has been placed in both a historic and an international perspective. The last not only shows other interesting resembling projects but also demonstrates that when the Dutch initiative is realised it is rather unique world wide.
Finally a plan is set up which takes the different views into consideration. The central electronic counter to be created serves the ministries by making indexes and presenting functional links towards already available servers. Next to that it will present common information and will give smaller ministries the capability to be present on the net without having to set up their own server.