Modernization
Contractors call for new agency to push cutting-edge IT
The Industry Advisory Council asks Obama transition team to create the Government Innovation Agency to serve as an incubator for new technology ideas and best practices.
Ideas
Needed: The Innovation Agency
The Industry Advisory Council, a group of federal IT contractors, recently met with the Obama Transition Team to talk about technology policy and management. The group gave Team Obama four reports. One of the more interesting <a href="http://www.actgov.org/actiac/documents/pdfs/Returning_Innovation_to_Gov_with_IT_final_draft.pdf">reports is on innovation</a>, which praises the incoming Obama administration for saying it will appoint a chief technology officer. But IAC says Obama:
Ideas
Before Pocket Calculators
Before there were pocket calculators there were nuclear-age slide rules. These circular cardboard calculators, shown on the <a href="http://www.orau.org/">Oak Ridge Associated Universities Web site</a>, measure all kinds of things related to nuclear blasts -- and, presumably, government officials needed dozens of special slide rules to measure them.
Acquisition
FedTracker: Landrieu to chair small business committee
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) will be the new chairwoman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in the next Congress.
Digital Government
Obama team shifts from online campaigning to more accessible government
San Jose Mercury News
People
The Lectern: Contracting in a time of mega-deficits and economic downturn
Government contracting has a number of chronic challenges that need addressing but that can't be fixed overnight. Meanwhile, there is a chance for our contracting workforce, and the incoming administration, to score some quick contracting wins that are related to the current economic and budget situation.
Digital Government
Toward A Better Registration System
Eliminating a mountain of paperwork is a top priority for gathering of election administrators
Digital Government
Agencies must cooperate on joint radio system
Unable to agree on a common purpose for the Integrated Wireless Network, Justice, Homeland Security and Treasury are building their own systems.
Digital Government
AT&T to offer secure Internet connections under telecom contract
General Services Administration still is reviewing proposals from the other companies that are part of Networx Universal.
People
Comment: What Obama can learn from the Washington Redskins
Changing presidents is like changing coaches in many ways, Mark Abramson writes.
People
IAC tells transition team about IT in government
The council recommends that the government be innovative as it takes advantage of what IT offers.
Digital Government