ESTONIA

Bush smiled and nodded, then nodded some more, as Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip enthusiastically explained how his government holds paperless Cabinet meetings.

The system, which uses digital signatures, permits legislation to be OK’d with the click of a mouse.

Ansip’s explanation, though, was not as lickety split. He described in detail how the dozen members of the Cabinet, in a room dubbed the “Starship Enterprise”, can vote or make comments online. Cabinet meetings that used last about four to five hours now wrap up in about 30 minutes.

Bush endured the lengthy explanation, shifting his weight back and forth.

He seemed charmed by Estonia’s use of the Internet in making daily life easier for its citizens.

“They’ve got an e-government system that should be the envy of a lot of nations,” Bush said.

Bush received two gifts from his Estonian hosts: a glass sculpture and a Skype wireless phone that can be used to make calls over the Internet.

The country is often nicknamed “E-Stonia” for its booming high-tech industry, and it is the main hub of Skype, the Internet telephone company that eBay bought last year for $2.6 billion.|link|

For reference:

The United States is 15th in the world in broadband penetration, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). When the ITU measured a broader “digital opportunity” index (considering price and other factors) we were 21st — right after Estonia. |link|