Digital Government
JWID '96 will spotlight switching, transmission
The Defense Department plans to use this year's Joint Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (JWID '96) to harvest information technology "golden nuggets" that it can insert quickly into the battlefield, with advanced, highspeed switch and transmission technology topping the list. This is not a
Digital Government
Satellite comm offers VTC at sea
Although viewers probably did not even question the technology that brought them a live TV interview with Defense Secretary William Perry from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington afloat in the Mediterranean earlier this month, Navy public affairs (PA) officials considered the broadcast a sym
Digital Government
JWID leader digs for 'gold nugget' technologies
Col. Rock Schmidt, director of the Joint Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (JWID) '96, promises this year's premier Defense Department demonstration of advanced communications and computer technologies will more than live up to a bit of superlative Army Airborne and Ranger slang "hooah," me
Digital Government
INTERCEPTS
Messaging wars. Microsoft has targeted the federal messaging market and plans to push its Exchange software heavily this year in an attempt to wrest IBM's Lotus Development Corp. from its 65 percent share of the market. Bruce Weber, Microsoft Federal's Exchange marketing manager, said the company p
Digital Government
GSI faults cost evaluation on DSSG
Government Systems Inc. said the Defense Information Systems Agency ignored its own evaluation criteria, which gave the most weight to price, in awarding a $2 billion network support contract last month to Boeing Information Services. GSI's charge is contained in a protest the company filed with th
Digital Government
DIA cools on Java; DISA keeps perking
Two key Defense agencies last week took opposite stands on the security threat posed by the use of the Java operating system developed by Sun Microsystems Inc. The Defense Intelligence Agency called for a temporary halt to its use while the Defense Information Systems Agency plans for Java to play
Digital Government
Microsoft Exchange stumbles on Army's tactical networks
The Army has experienced serious problems sending Microsoft Exchange messages over its Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE) Tactical Packet Network (TPN) during recent exercises in Europe. Lt. Col. John Ylinen, chief of automation for V Corps before his transfer to the Pentagon last month, complained
Digital Government
DISA moves NIPRNET to Sprint
The Defense Information Systems Agency later this year plans to move a substantial portion of its key nonclassified data network to a new system that uses advanced switching technology capable of data rates of up to 622 megabit/sec. The action sparked immediate industry reaction in the highly compe
Digital Government
Hughes, Zenith detail DTV wares
With the $1 billion Air Force Desktop V program about to open for business contractors Hughes Data Systems Inc. and Zenith Data Systems last week announced pricing and configurations for their major product offerings. Vendors expect their Desktop V lineups which feature 133 MHz and 166 MHz deskto
Digital Government
INTERCEPTS
DISA rumor du jour. The crystalball gazers now have DISA director Lt. Gen. Al Edmonds retiring this fall to take over as ASD/C3I from Emmett Paige Jr., who has made very clear his intention to retire after the elections. Hard to figure this one out because the last time the Interceptor encountered
Digital Government
EIA: 1997 budget forecast for information technology near $50B
Total federal spending for information technology in 1997 will be around $50 billion, or double the $25 billion in IT spending the civil agencies and Defense Department formally report in filings to the Office of Management and Budget, according to the Electronics Industries Association. EIA, in it
Digital Government
INTERCEPTS
Ready for some DISAwear. Those wonderful DISA enlisted folks who brought the world the muchprized DISA Christmas ornament have now come out with a clothing line, with sales dollars going to help families. Act now, and you could be the first on your block with a DISA Tshirt ($16.75), polo shirt
Digital Government
GSI protests Boeing's $2B DISN services buy
Government Systems Inc. late last month lodged a protest against the Defense Information Systems Agency's $2 billion Defense Information Systems Network Support ServicesGlobal (DSSG) contract awarded to Boeing Information Services. GSI declined to provide any details about the protest, filed with
Digital Government
Vendors showcase high-tech WIN wares
Potential suppliers for the Army's Warfighter Information Network (WIN), a multibilliondollar project to upgrade all aspects of battlefield communications from fiberoptic cable to widebandwidth routers used last week's Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association/TechNet '96 (AFCE
Digital Government
NOAA names ship after Brown
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched its newest research vessel last month and named it in honor of former Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown, killed in a plane crash in Bosnia April 3. NOAA originally intended to name the 3,250ton, 274feetlong ship "Researcher" but change
Digital Government
Intercepts
DISN hornets' nest. The infighting over the multibilliondollar Defense Information Systems Network continues, with the board here at Intercepts Central lighting up with more gossip, rumor, innuendo and the rare fact than my processors can handle.
Digital Government
Paige champions Web tools
Commercial tools and technologies developed to easily tap into information on internets, intranets and the World Wide Web offer "an unprecedented way to change the way [the Defense Department does] business," according to Emmett Paige Jr., the assistant secretary of Defense for command, control,
Digital Government
Lawmakers urge DOD to back integrated bid
The Senate Governmental Affairs and Armed Services committees have asked the Pentagon to explain why it will not accept a single integrated bid for its multibilliondollar Defense Information Systems Network (DISN), a position long advocated by AT&T. The Defense Information Systems Agency has repea
Digital Government
Intercepts
Still learning. My Bosnian remote antenna site has picked up strong signals that the muchhyped DARPA/DISA commercial Bosnian C2 network still has its share of problems. They're still having big problems with commercial power in Sarajevo and not enough backupgenerator capacity. The lesson learned
Digital Government
Air Force halts PC sked orders
The Air Force last week nixed plans by users to buy Desktop V "killer" PC packages that vendors planned to offer on the General Services Administration schedule while protests on the megadeal are being resolved. In a memo dated May 31, the service directed all major commands "not to procure off
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