Ideas
House Passes File Sharing Bill
The House on Tuesday passed a <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.4098:">bill</a> that would mandate a policy banning the use of file sharing software on federal computers and networks, along with those used by contractors.
Ideas
Stand Up and Be Counted
We're a little over a week into the 2010 decennial census -- most census forms were delivered between March 15 and 17 -- and it's time for a progress report, courtesy of the Census Bureau's new <a href=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/>Web mapping feature</a>.
Ideas
USPS Takes to the Web to Explain
The U.S. Postal Service launched on Wednesday a <a href=http://www.usps.com/communications/five-daydelivery/>Web site</a> to explain their controversial proposal for five-day mail delivery.
Ideas
Open Government = Another Buzzword?
Opening up the government means more than just putting information out there, said Rachel Flagg, General Services Administration web content manager and Federal Web Managers Council co-chair, during a panel discussion Tuesday at GovSec, a government security expo in Washington, D.C.
Ideas
New Cookie Rules, April 7
The White House early next month plans to change a federal Web site policy that bans tracking devices called cookies, which many commercial sites use to customize their pages for users, administration officials said on Tuesday.
Ideas
Google Stops Censoring, Stays In China
Google on Monday announced it has stopped filtering search results for Chinese citizens - a move that flies in the face of Chinese law - but plans to continue operating in China.
Ideas
Nextgov Launches Soundbytes
Nextgov wants to hear from you: What do you think about body scanners? Transparency? The IT workforce?
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Kempf to Oversee GSA Acquisitions
General Services Administrator Martha Johnson on Friday announced that Steve Kempf, currently the Federal Acquisition Service's deputy commissioner, will take over as FAS acting commissioner on April 3.
Ideas
Supreme Court Sorta Spiffs Up Web Site
The heavily-trafficked <a href="http://www.supremecourt.gov/">Web site</a> of the U.S. Supreme Court -- long criticized for its confusing navigation and lack of information -- has finally been upgraded, somewhat.
Ideas
The Nose Knows
Is your nose a snub? Or maybe a turn-up? According to British scientists, the nose could be the newest feature used to verify an individual's identity.
Ideas
Broadband Plan: Test Fed Sites
The national broadband plan released by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday presents federal Web managers with a somewhat impossible mission.
Ideas
Stimulus Watchdogs Go CSI
Analysts working for the independent federal board that monitors stimulus spending are using CSI-style tools to fight fraudsters, according to a report about oversight operations that the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board released to the president and Congress on Monday.
Ideas
Upcoming: House Transparency Caucus
Some members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are expected next week to announce the formation of a bipartisan congressional transparency caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the panel's ranking member, and Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill.
Ideas
Tax Free Smart Grid Grants
Federal grants under the Smart Grid Investment Grant program will not be taxed, the Treasury and Energy Department announced Wednesday. This means that the IRS will provide a safe harbor for corporations receiving grants under the $3.4 billion federal stimulus program, which funds projects that aid the modernization of the energy grid.
Ideas
Web Site Woes: USAspending.gov
Inconsistencies will continue to plague <a href=http://usaspending.gov/>USAspending.gov</a> unless the Office of Management and Budget issues better reporting guidance to agencies, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Ideas
Tweet Trends
Social networking offers lots of opportunities to share information, join a conversation, reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. Perhaps too many. With Facebook, LinkedIn, GovLoop, Twitter and more, who has time to actively participate in everything?
Ideas
Friday is Deadline for Nextgov Awards
Friday is the last day to <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov_awards/">submit a nomination</a> for the Nextgov Awards. Do you know a colleague who took on personal risks to push through an idea, policy or management change that used technology? If so, please tell us their story.
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Win Cash and IP Rights
Citizens who enter innovation contests that the government plans to launch this year could rake in cash on top of the prize money that agencies are allowed to award. The White House on Monday released a <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100309_4641.php">legal framework</a> for giving away money and other incentives during competitions aimed at improving open government, spurring research and development and addressing national priorities.
Ideas