People

USDA's IT funding gets slight increase in budget proposal

The Agriculture Department would see a slight funding increase for its IT programs under President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2012 budget proposal.

People

NASA picks deputy CIO for IT security

Valerie Burkes, former Associate CIO for Cyber and Privacy Policy and Oversight at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was named by NASA CIO Linda Cureton as Deputy CIO for IT Security at NASA.

Digital Government

Social media looms in regulations development

New Web 2.0 tools are changing the ways in which government makes and implements rules and regulations.

Modernization

The rush is on to approve applications for broadband funds

The Agriculture and Commerce departments are rushing to review and approve $4.2 billion in stimulus law funding for broadband by Sept. 30, a report says.

Digital Government

Obama makes $795M in broadband grants

Some $795 million will be spent for broadband development in rural and underserved areas in a second round of grants.

Modernization

Government-only virtual world on the way

Federal agencies are building the vGov government-only virtual world that will be used for employee training, education, meetings and simulations. It's expected to go online in July.

People

USDA releases draft open-gov plan

The Agriculture Department published a draft version of its open-government plan, which details how the agency plans to become more open and transparent to the public.

Digital Government

Grants for broadband becoming easier to apply for

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Rural Utilities Service have made the grant application process easier.

Cybersecurity

Four U.S. agencies deficient in controlling stimulus reporting errors, auditors say

Inspectors general have identified shortcomings in the monitoring of mistakes and omissions in Recovery Act reporting at four federal agencies.

People

USDA grants aim to expand health care to rural areas

Nearly $35 million in grants from the USDA aim to support telemedicine and distance learning in rural areas.

Modernization

Broadband grant program has problems, GAO official says

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Rural Utilities Service are adding staff members and contractors to help handle 2,200 applications for $7 billion in broadband grants and loans.

Digital Government

USDA cultivates social-media campaigns through planning

Agriculture Department officials have used social media to publicize a tour of rural community revitalization projects.

Digital Government

Applications for broadband grants under the stimulus law far outstrip available funds

The Commerce and Agriculture departments received 2,200 applications for broadband projects.

Modernization

5 pitfalls to avoid with performance management dashboards

Dashboards promise greater visibility into day-to-day agency operations, but poor data and lack of user involvement can spoil projects.

Modernization

USDA uses social media to study rural life

A new Web site from the Agriculture Department uses several social media tools to track a program that collects information on life in rural communities.

Modernization

HUD joins Recovery Act mapping effort

HUD officials will upload data to a Web mapping tool about how and where Recovery Act dollars are spent.

Digital Government

Knowledge retention helps agencies retain employees' expertise

Organizations use knowledge-retention programs to capture workplace wisdom and provide mechanisms for sharing expertise learned from retiring workers.

Acquisition

Forest Service contracts for stimulus support

The Forest Service awarded a purchase agreement to Government Contract Solutions for support services related to the agency's stimulus spending and oversight.

Modernization

Senate to vote on Stimulus cut for IT

Sens. Nelson and Collins are promoting an amendment that would cut $83 billion from the stimulus package, including reductions in major IT items.

Modernization

Groups urge broadband provisions in package

Public safety organizations urge Congress to include provisions for first responder communications programs in the economic stimulus package.