Ideas

Update: Davis Doesn't Want Cyber Job

My colleague at <a href="http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/06/tom-davis-doesnt-want-cyber-cz.php#more">TechDailyDose reports</a> that Davis isn't interested in being cyber czar after all:<blockquote>Former Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., said Tuesday that he does not want the job of President Obama's cybersecurity coordinator despite recent rumblings that he was one of the top contenders for the position.

Ideas

Tom Davis, Cyber Czar?

Time magazine <a href="http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1905822,00.html">reported on Friday</a> that former Republican congressman Tom Davis of Virginia is the White House's leading candidate to be <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090529_1893.php?oref=search">the nation's first cybersecurity czar</a>:

Ideas

Pentagon Stops Sharing

One of the fascinating things about government IT is the extent to which the government's investments in technology and research benefit society as a whole. The government has always provided much of the funding for the type of basic scientific research that has led to development of technologies like personal computers or the Internet. The scientific community relies heavily on the government to provide resources that would otherwise be unavailable.

Ideas

One More Makes Three

The General Services Administration announced today that Verizon Business Services will offer secure Internet connections to agencies via the Networx Universal contract. Verizon joins AT&T and Qwest Government Services in offering managed trusted Internet protocol service on Networx Universal.

Ideas

IG: DHS Intel folks need cyber education

The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general released a <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_08-87_Aug08.pdf">report</a> Friday on the security program for DHS' Intelligence systems. Since it relates to weaknesses in top secret and sensitive systems, the report is predictably short in length and vague in its recommendations.

Digital Government

GSA issues presolicitation to overhaul Recovery.gov

A request for proposals could be released by Monday, with work scheduled for completion by October, when agencies must begin submitting their first spending reports.

Ideas

Recovery RFQ Only for Alliant Vendors

As my colleague Robert Brodsky <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090602_5138.php?oref=search">reported last week</a>, the Recovery Board <a href="https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=1b3ec144c7c80e70622d6600cf519697&tab=core&_cview=0">issued an RFQ this morning</a> for the redesign of the <a href="http://www.recovery.gov">Recovery.gov</a> Web site.

Digital Government

Broadband plan needs more detail to provide transparency

Timelines and performance measures should be part of the strategy to expand high-speed Internet access as required by the Recovery Act.

Ideas

A Retreat (Sorta) on Blocking Social Media

Wired's Danger Room blog has <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/army-orders-bases-stop-blocking-twitter-facebook-flickr/">obtained a copy</a> of a May 18 operations order from the Army's 93rd Signal Brigade directing information managers on domestic military bases to allow personnel to access Facebook, Vimeo, Delicious, Flickr and Twitter. From the order:

Ideas

Committee Approves Johnson to GSA

On Monday, the Senate Committee for Homeland Security and Government Affairs approved by unanimous voice vote the nomination of Martha Johnson to be GSA administrator. Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., praised Johnson for her experience and firsthand knowledge of GSA:

Digital Government

Analysts say transparency will take time

It could be months before sites such as Data.gov and Recovery.gov move beyond aggregating information available elsewhere.

Ideas

CDC Shows Off Its Stats

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has become the star of the Government 2.0 movement recently, as the agency has been wildly successful in deploying social media to raise awareness of recent public health crises, including the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090209_7840.php">peanut butter/salmonella outbreak</a> and the recent <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090427_5864.php">swine flu scare</a>.

Digital Government

Latest delay to E-Verify prompts doubts about program's future

Obama administration has postponed implementation four times already.

Digital Government

OMB updates guidelines for USASpending.gov data

Senator recommends that the administration use the spending clearinghouse to share information on subawards until Recovery.gov is redesigned.

Cybersecurity

GSA nominee says Networx transition is too slow

Martha Johnson warns that at current rate the government will not complete the telecommunications shift before the contracts expire in two years.

Modernization

Google's Washington presence keeps growing

Company unveils search tool, the latest in a series of products that attract federal agencies.

Ideas

Google Government

The blogosphere is buzzing over last week's <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/googles-top-policy-exec-to-join-obama-administration/?hp">report</a> that Google head of global public policy Andrew McLaughlin will join the Obama administration as deputy chief technology officer under Aneesh Chopra.

Ideas

The Cybersecurity Barn Door

President Obama's <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090529_1893.php">speech today</a> and the release of Melissa Hathaway's <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Cyberspace_Policy_Review_final.pdf">60-day cybersecurity review</a> are clear signals that cybersecurity is finally getting the attention it deserves, especially given its strategic importance to national security.

Cybersecurity

Obama raises stakes for cybersecurity

Unveiling results of 60-day review, president says he'll appoint a cybersecurity czar at the White House.