Author Archive
Emerging Tech
After Decision Upholding FCC’s 5G Rules, Cities Now Weighing Appeal
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld FCC rules limiting local government’s ability to regulate 5G infrastructure and cap fees. Cities involved in the case have until Sept. 28 to file an appeal, but some experts say the ruling wasn’t all bad.
Cybersecurity
Ransomware Attacks Demanding Larger Payouts from Local Governments
The average ransom demanded of a local government in a cyberattack grew from $30,000 to $380,000, according to one cybersecurity firm.
IT Modernization
One-Third of U.S. Workers Want Permanent Remote Work
A new Morning Consult survey finds many workers would like to continue working from home after the coronavirus pandemic recedes and some would likely move to a new city or state if remote work becomes permanent.
CIO Briefing
Pandemic, Civil Unrest Complicate Voting in the Nation’s Capital
Washington, D.C. is among the jurisdictions that encouraged residents to vote by mail to stay safe amid the coronavirus pandemic, but voters who came out to the polls Tuesday still encountered long lines.
CIO Briefing
Weeding Out Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Just Became More Difficult
Millions of out-of-work Americans are filing for unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic and fraudsters are using the unprecedented crush of filings to take advantage.
Policy
States Struggle to Get Vote-by-Mail Plans Ready in Time
Many states delayed their primaries to give election officials more time to prepare, but quickly overhauling procedures comes with real challenges. What will it all mean for the November elections?
Data
States Start Hiring Battalions of Contact Tracers to Track Covid-19
As governors look to loosen coronavirus restrictions, a key benchmark will be improving the ability to track and isolate new cases. That will include more “contact tracers,” investigators who track down those who’ve come in contact with infected people.
CIO Briefing
Real ID Deadline Postponed Due to Coronavirus
President Trump pushed back the Oct. 1 deadline that would have required Americans to have Real ID compliant driver’s licenses and other identification cards in order to board an airplane.
CIO Briefing
Coronavirus Cases to Jump with Increase in Testing Capacity
Health officials said Monday that as testing shifts from public labs to commercial labs the number of coronavirus cases will increase. The insufficient testing capability has been a major criticism of the disease response.
Cybersecurity
West Virginia Scraps Voatz Mobile Voting App
The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office announced it would use a different electronic absentee voting technology after researchers raised security concerns with the previous voting app it had used.
Data
One Month Out, Watchdog Warns About Census IT and Cybersecurity Challenges
The Census Bureau this month switched the internet response system that respondents will use to complete the 2020 census questionnaire. The last-minute change worries the Government Accountability Office.
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IT Modernization
Frustrated by Flawed Broadband Maps, States Are Trying to Create Their Own
The Federal Communications Commission’s broadband maps underestimate the number of households that lack internet service. State agencies are trying to gather better data.
Data
The Census Already Started in Alaska. Native Translators Are Working to Prevent Undercount Repeat.
Across the country, tribal and non-English speaking communities are creating guidance and messages in a variety of languages to encourage Census 2020 participation.
Emerging Tech
FCC Approves $20 Billion Rural Broadband Funding Plan
While proponents heralded the fund as a major step to close the "rural digital divide," Democrats on the commission warned that many areas that need internet won't get help.
Cybersecurity
FBI to Alert States About Local Election System Hacks
The FBI changed its policy to allow agents to inform both state and local election officials when election systems are breached.
Data
How California’s Consumer Privacy Act Will Become the Digital Law of the Land
Under the law, the onus is on consumers to request that companies disclose or delete their personal data. But more states and the federal government could still jump into the privacy debate.
Cybersecurity
Local Election Officials Can Get Free Election Auditing Software from the Feds
The open-source software is already being piloted in at least six states and officials say it can help authenticate results in 2020.
Emerging Tech
Artificial Intelligence Could Have Biggest Impact on White-Collar Jobs
New research suggests that white collar jobs are more likely to feel the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace than blue-collar positions.
IT Modernization
A State Agency Scraps Its Paper-Based Licensing System
In adopting a digital licensing system, officials at the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission say they moved away not just from stacks and stacks of paper, but also an old mindset.
Cybersecurity