Communications and Internet Technology program

Learn more about the Commission's 2006 Projects (PDF, 667k)

Our goal
To promote awareness and active participation in public policy decisionmaking through the application of communications techniques and technologies.

What we do
The Communications and Internet Technology (CIT) Program oversees the writing, design and marketing of all Commission products, both online and traditional print publications. This includes the Commission’s annual report, bimonthly Advisor newsletter and its entire suite of web sites. Primary among these is the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN), the region’s premier source for Great Lakes information. Through their training in journalism, print/web design and data management, CIT staff provide Commission-wide editing and design services.

• GLIN and Regional Data Exchange (RDX)
  The Commission provides broad-based information services to the region through the online Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN), which continued to expand and serve new audiences in 2005. GLIN served as a key regional data exchange portal for the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, connecting thousands of stakeholders on a daily basis. Via GLIN, the Commission continues to lead regional efforts to design and maintain Internet-based GIS applications, bringing together data and information from various sources into a cohesive, easily accessible format for use by researchers, policymakers and stakeholders. The Commission has also organized biennial conferences and periodic workshops to promote regional data exchange across the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River basin.

• GLIN Daily News: Produce online roundup of Great Lakes news items from regional media, distributed each weekday to an email subscriber list. Dozens of Great Lakes organizations are involved through a sponsorship campaign and regional press room.
• GLIN Hydrology Partnership: Posting current lake conditions data on GLIN, including water levels, beach monitoring updates, boating safety and security advisories, and more.
• Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN): Operate web-based information service providing a broad range of Great Lakes news and information related to the environment, economy, maps and GIS, tourism, education, and more.
• Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC): Provide communications support for the GLRC, including web site design and maintenance, database development, and hosting of discussion forums and email lists.
• Regional Data Exchange: Organize workshop series and biennial conference to promote data exchange standards and collaboration in the Great Lakes region.
• The Education And Curriculum Homesite (TEACH): Redesign educational web site to include new fishery education resources, a Teachers’ Corner, reviews of teaching materials, sample lesson plans and a discussion forum.