Web Headlines

Headlines from around the Web for Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
Compiled by Melanie Bender

Congress Extends Surveillance Law for 15 Days

NetworkWorld

Following an appeal from President George W. Bush on Monday, Congress has granted a temporary extension to a controversial law that allows the government to conduct telephone surveillance on suspected terrorists.

Tech Giant CSC Moving Its Base to Falls Church

The Washington Post

Global technology and consulting firm Computer Sciences Corp. is relocating its headquarters to Falls Church from El Segundo, Calif., making it one of the largest companies based in the Washington area. The move, which may bring as many as a couple of hundred employees to the area, caps a consolidation of CSC management in the region. The company already has 11,000 workers in the area.

Phone Glitch Hangs Up Schools in Massachusetts

The Boston Globe

A small human error caused a large telephone glitch that occurred shortly after the Medford district's automated calling system went through its update. Someone forgot to log out of the database before trying to send a message sometime before noon to the few parents whose children had been marked absent. Instead, about 2,100 calls were issued about absent students at various schools. So many parents arrived at Brooks Elementary School to check on their children that officials put the place in lockdown.

NASCIO Urges Action on IT Security in New Video

Government Technology

NASCIO has released a new video, "At Risk! Securing Government in a Digital World." A product of NASCIO's Security and Privacy Committee and IT Security Video Work Group, the video is designed to assist state CIOs in communicating the important message about why securing government technology is a critical concern in the digital world.

Where the Candidates Stand on IT

Government Computer News

Advisers to Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, speaking at the State of the Net conference hosted by the Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus, outlined their differing opinions on the government’s role in promoting, regulating and policing IT.

Kaine: Talk Results to Capture Business

Washington Technology

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine urged contractors selling to state governments to talk first to governors, legislators and state officials about tangible results they can help them achieve before moving on to specific technology strategies.

Future Watch: High-Tech Bridge Safety

PC Magazine

Some crafty tech upgrades could help stabilize many of the nation's potentially unsafe bridges. Researchers surmised that placing electronic sensors on bridges could transmit essential data to FHA monitors, reporting on the structural integrity and general overall health of the bridges.

Study: U.S. Broadband Goal Nearly Reached

BusinessWeek

n 2004, President Bush pledged that all Americans should have affordable access to high-speed Internet service by 2007. A report to be released Thursday by the administration says it has succeeded -- mostly. "Networked Nation: Broadband in America" is an upbeat assessment of the administration's efforts to spur growth and competition in the high-speed Internet market. Critics said the report's conclusion is too rosy.

Data Breaches Probed at New Jersey Blue Cross, Georgetown

ComputerWorld

Companies are paying a lot of attention to securing their networks against malicious attacks and other threats, but some still lag in implementing similar measures for protecting data on desktops, laptops and portable storage devices. The most recent examples are Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Georgetown University, both of which faced data compromises this month.

Free Service Offers Prisons' Neighbors Alerts

The Indianapolis Star

An automated telephone call system will warn people living near Indiana prisons of escapes and riots. The Alert Notification Service is a computer system that telephones people who have registered for the service if there's trouble at a prison. While there are 28 correctional facilities in Indiana, the system will be intended for alerts from the 24 prisons considered "secure facilities."