Abstract
Does free/open source software matter for government and civic tech? Matter in the sense that it should have a deep and strategic role in government IT and policy rather than just being a "nice to have" or something "we use when we can"? The answer is yes, open source software matters for government and civic tech – and, conversely, government matters for open source. This report shows how and why, covering: -Why open software is especially important for government and civic tech -Why open software needs special support and treatment by government -What specific actions can be taken to provide this support for open software
