Digital Government
Rugged goes mini in Toughbook 33
Looking for an alternative to those hefty laptop computers and messy day planners? Better yet, how about an alternative that can stand some abuse? Panasonic used a light touch in developing its solution, the new ruggedized mininotebook, Toughbook 33. This little notebook weighs 2.6 pounds with its
Digital Government
Rep. mulls grading agencies on security
The head of a technology lobbying group last week suggested that Rep. Stephen Horn (RCalif.) should apply the same grading system used to evaluate agencies on fixing computers for the Year 2000 problem to agencies' efforts to protect their computer systems from hackers. Harris Miller, president of
Digital Government
Microsoft strengthens management tool
With the PC's popularity, the rapid evolution of software and smaller information technology staffs responsible for managing more desktops than ever before, getting a handle on enterprisewide systems management remains a daunting task. Several products on the market promise to help you get a grip o
Digital Government
Agencies banned from buying 'incidentals'
A ruling last month by the comptroller general that made illegal a widely used method for buying products that are not listed on the General Services Administration schedule could change the way government agencies go about making purchases, according to procurement specialists. Many federal agenci
Digital Government
Budget shouldn't cut innovation
The lengthy and contentious process of putting together the nation's budget always forces agencies to take a hard look at funding priorities in light of economic realities. But NASA's experience with the House of Representatives last month is a painful reminder that much damage can be done in the n
Digital Government
DOD: Change Passwords
Concerned that efforts to fix computer systems for the Year 2000 problem may expose its information infrastructure to cyberattacks, the Defense Department has ordered its network managers to change all administrative and user passwords on their unclassified networks. The order is the result of mand
Digital Government
House urges White House to protect small businesses
The Clinton administration must work quickly to define strong regulations that will protect small businesses from the increasingly common practice of combining small individual contracts into one large pact, members of a House panel said last week. Members of the House Small Business Committee told
Digital Government
Intercepts
THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES. That's the message coming from dozens of Standard Procurement System users that officials at the Defense Logistics Agency and American Management Systems Inc. don't want you to hear.Shortly after the appearance of our frontpage story on SPS in the Aug. 2 issue of FCW, m
Digital Government
Mint site makes money
The U.S. Mint is making money. The agency's online catalog, launched in April, has racked up nearly $7 million from sales of coins and coin jewelry, about 5 percent of its annual income from direct sales. With at least $5 saved in each transaction, every electronic sale means the Mint which by la
Digital Government
Education chief concerned about college Y2K readiness
U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley sent a letter on Thursday to the nation's college and university presidents and chancellors expressing his concern that many of the institutions are not yet Year 2000compliant.
Digital Government
NIMA declassifies images for climate study
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency this week declassified 59 satellite images of the Arctic Ocean that will be used by scientists interested in understanding connections between polar ice caps and global warming.
Digital Government
Texas nears rollout of fingerprint system
The Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) said it will finish by the end of this month statewide rollout of the Lone Star Image System, a fingerprint imaging system designed to combat welfare fraud.
Digital Government
NTIA administrator leaving Commerce
Larry Irving, assistant secretary of Commerce for communications and information and the administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, plans to leave the Commerce Department at the end of the summer, Commerce Secretary William Daley announced Thursday.
Digital Government
Court overturns federal e-records ruling
A federal appeals court ruled today that a government policy allowing agencies to delete electronic records as long as they preserved paper copies is valid, reversing a nearly 2yearold district court decision.
Digital Government
Colorado's first CIO gets fill of job
Paul Quade, Colorado's firstever chief information officer, has a full plate in store for the 18 months he plans to serve under a loaned executive agreement that allowed him to accept the position.
Digital Government
California introduces contracting notification system
The California Department of General Services (DGS) recently introduced its Subscription Outreach Service (SOS), an Internetbased contracting notification system that electronically delivers state and local contract advertisements to registered businesses.
Digital Government
Pa. libraries offer Y2K info for free
All of Pennsylvania's public libraries now have Year 2000 informational materials available for free. The state produced printed and video materials as part of Gov. Tom Ridge's Pa2K public outreach project, which sought to raise public awareness about the Year 2000 computer problem and provide basic planning tools for public use.
Digital Government
Commerce Department IT official to resign
Larry Irving, assistant secretary of Commerce for communications and information and the administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, plans to leave the Commerce Department at the end of the summer, Commerce Secretary William Daley announced today.
Digital Government
Navajo schools get teacher training grant
A dozen Navajo school districts in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah received a $1.2 million grant from Microsoft Corp. earlier this week to fund technology training for teachers.
Digital Government