People

Striking the right balance for customer service

Federal agencies find high tech frees their call center employees for high-touch service.

Digital Government

Shuttle Discovery's obsolete code could force launch delay

But NASA engineers say date reprogramming problem does not pose a flight-safety risk.

Digital Government

Shuttle's clock could mean bad time for space program

The computers aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, which is set to launch in December, will not know what time it is back on Earth come Jan. 1, 2007.

People

Circuit

Davis: Hey, look what we’ve done; Hear it again; Hank Paulson’s net worth increases twentyfold; A crumb in the corporate cosmos; ELC...Newt, can you hear us now?; Quote of the week

Digital Government

Microsoft adds dimension to Virtual Earth

The 3-D version is free and accessible from any Web browser, and government users could use it for training and simulation, company officials said.

Modernization

Business sector, states seek e-cycling solutions

Lawmakers, recyclers are closely monitoring current programs to reach uniform approach.

People

EPA official tries to allay library fears

“All unique EPA material from all the recently closed physical libraries will be digitized in the next several weeks,” Deputy Administrator Marcus Peacock wrote in an online message.

Cybersecurity

IG: IT security faces time crunch at DOT

The department needs to strengthen the security of its air traffic control systems, while protecting other systems as the agency consolidates IT operations, the IG said, adding that "fiscal 2007 will be a particularly challenging year."

People

Tipton steps down as Interior CIO

W. Hord Tipton said he took inventory of what he had accomplished since assuming the position in 2002 and felt it was time to try something new.

People

New push for a transformation of FOIA processing

Some say Gonzales’ new report should make Congress more receptive to needed reforms

People

Senators push to reopen EPA libraries

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) are circulating a letter in support of maintaining public access to library collections and services.

People

FTC creates blog to chronicle series on Internet tools

The Federal Trade Commission has absolved itself of all responsibility for the blog's content, which is written by an anonymous recent college graduate.

People

FedEx Kinko's to help FEMA get word out in emergencies

When disaster strikes, FEMA will use GPOExpress to get print jobs done right away rather than go through a solicitation.

People

IT, intranets would improve FOIA processes, attorney general says

In a review of agency plans to improve Freedom of Information Act operations, Alberto Gonzales found that many want to adopt IT for expediting requests.

People

Google hires former GSA official

M.J. Pizzella, who overseen the government's official search engine, FirstGov, had left GSA on June 30.

Cybersecurity

Firewall causes storm of trouble for NWS

A firewall apparently knocked offline a college Web site that had been supplying data to Los Angeles forecasters at a National Weather Service office, officials say.

Cybersecurity

DOE reduces use of polygraph technology

Agency will end general screening of job applicants, employees.

People

Circuit

Univision.com offers FirstGov channel; Catch tax evaders with better IT; Archives welcomes millionth visitor, but then…

People

NASA considers leap into social networking space

Experts say YouTube and other Web 2.0 tools could build support for future missions.

Acquisition

More computer products go green

The number of certified eco-friendly computer products available to government agencies has grown rapidly since a new green seal of approval was released in July.