I totally agree with you, but this is a chicken-and-egg problem. Unless someone starts demanding such standards, the challenge will always be there.
Letting the administration be the pioneer in this front is sensible both morally and practically. Morally because the administration should be pushing for the greater good for all citizens, and practically because people/companies can not just "choose another provider and sidestep the issue".
Once nearly everyone is forced to have processes in place to interface with the administration using open standard formats, small companies looking to do business will have a much easier time asking for these formats too.
Letting the administration be the pioneer in this front is sensible both morally and practically. Morally because the administration should be pushing for the greater good for all citizens, and practically because people/companies can not just "choose another provider and sidestep the issue".
Once nearly everyone is forced to have processes in place to interface with the administration using open standard formats, small companies looking to do business will have a much easier time asking for these formats too.