Digital Government

Networx contract offers first certified product for securing Internet connections

Technology is better suited for agencies with basic security requirements rather than complex intelligence networks, observer says.

Digital Government

PTO teams with Google on database

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Digital Government

Site launched to collect public input on airline rule

Transportation and Cornell University create Regulation Room where individuals with little or no policy backgrounds can take part in shaping a regulation that would expand the rights of passengers.

Cybersecurity

Bill would require Defense to explore new cybersecurity buys and tools

Funding would support partnerships with industry to track threats, streamline the acquisition of cyber products and services, and integrate network security tools.

Ideas

Choosing the Transparency Mascot

Government Executive's Editor in Chief and FedBlog author Tom Shoop <a href=http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2010/06/a_transparent_accountable_masc.php>posted an item</a> on Tuesday about Recovery.gov's mascot contest. From FedBlog:

Digital Government

Health Policy End Run?

The Senate Armed Services Committee wants to make it easier to transfer medical information from the Defense Department to the Veterans Affairs Department without the need for prior authorization from a service member.

Digital Government

Library of Congress aids geospatial data preservation

The Library of Congress and Columbia University are creating a Web-based information hub to provide best practices, tools, methods and services to assist organizations in preserving geospatial data.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Legislation's Unnoticed Rise

National cybersecurity legislation jumped a <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100528_3390.php?oref=topnews">major hurdle</a> Friday in the House, but went mostly unnoticed. This is what happens when a big story drops on a Friday afternoon right before a holiday weekend. The House <a href="http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/press/armedsvc_dem/SkeltonPR0528102.shtml">passed</a> the fiscal <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.5136:">2011 National Defense Authorization Act</a>, which included an amendment from Reps. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., and Diane Watson , D-Calif. to update information security requirements for agencies, and establish a separate cybersecurity office in the White House.

Ideas

FISMA Reform Passes House

The House passed on Friday by a 229 to 186 vote the Defense authorization bill, which included an amendment to overhaul federal cybersecurity policy.

Digital Government

Texas city tests two-way emergency comm platform

The City of Manor, Texas, is deploying a pilot platform designed to deliver location-specific alerts to residents during a crisis and allow them to send information back to emergency responders via smart phones.

Digital Government

21 years later, public safety networks still can't talk to each other

After more than two decades of development, the P25 suite of interoperability standards for public safety radio networks remains incomplete, House panel is told.

Digital Government

EHRs Not So User-Friendly

The usability (or lack thereof) of electronic health records is a key factor in their adoption, yet vendors do a poor job of systematically focusing on convenience of use throughout the development and testing of EHRs, concluded a recently released report.

People

GSA offers governmentwide platform for idea competitions

The General Services Administration seeks to make it easier for federal agencies to hold online competitions for innovative ideas.

Acquisition

VA said to fall behind on verifying veteran-owned businesses

Through April, the VA had verified only 14 percent of companies in Vetbiz.gov, a database of companies able to get set-aside contracts.

Digital Government

FISMA reform rides on defense spending's coattails

A defense authorization bill amendment seeks to improve federal cybersecurity by increasing oversight, improving standards and making compliance and security more attainable.

Digital Government

Gen Y Values Privacy

Younger Internet users are actually more careful about protecting their online privacy than their older counterparts, according to a new <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Reputation-Management.aspx?r=1">study</a> by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Digital Government

Agencies to measure effects of science spending

The White House and two agencies will start collecting data on federal spending's effects on science.

Digital Government

Google browser targets federal market

Google is subtly increasing pressure on Microsoft with a new release of its Chrome browser. Government employees may now have a new alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer platform: Google has released a new stable version of its browser for Mac and Linux, bringing it out of beta for these two platforms.

People

Unions fight proposed pay freeze for feds

Unions and federal employee groups have their hands full working to turn back attempts in the House and Senate to freeze federal pay in fiscal 2011.