Digital Government

HHS mulls health care ID system

The Department of Health and Human Services last week issued a white paper on a plan to create a standard identification code for health care patients so that patient records could be stored in a central database, a project that critics fear could result in a new nationwide ID card that could compr

Digital Government

GSA constructs site for vendor guide; Treasury page offers wealth of data

The General Services Administration has launched a new electronic version of its Federal Supply Service vendor guide that is designed to give commercial companies an easy way to access tips and other information about the service. The guide, previously available only in paper format, can now be fou

Digital Government

NTSB gives accident details; Senate offers virtual tours

Numerous federal agencies use the World Wide Web to give the public access to research that an agency has conducted. The National Transportation Safety Board is one agency that has posted information that any person who travels by boat, train, plane or automobile would be interested in: all acciden

Digital Government

GSA's proposed digital-certificate program draws fire

The General Services Administration is finding it difficult to generate interest among agencies and vendors for a program that would provide identity verification so that the public could access data at or send information to agencies. The Access Certificates for Electronic Services (ACES) project,

Digital Government

Senate panel obliterates infowar funds

The Senate Appropriations Committee last month gave the goahead to a bill that strips the Defense Department of funds to protect against information warfare attacks. Following the lead of the House, the Senate version of the 1999 Defense appropriations bill eliminates all $69.9 million requested b

Digital Government

CIA reveals cyberterrorists targeting U.S.

Speaking publicly about information warfare threats for the first time, the director of the CIA said last week that several foreign governments are developing information warfare programs and that terrorist groups are watching how the United States responds to hacker attacks on government systems a

Digital Government

NSA to declassify two security algorithms

The National Security Agency plans to declassify two computer security algorithms used in Fortezza PC Cards to clear the way for commercial firms to work with the Defense Department on software encryption for DOD's large email message system now under development. NSA last week declassified the Sk

Digital Government

NSA to declassify two security algorithms

The National Security Agency plans to declassify two computer security algorithms one of which is the Skipjack encryption algorithm used in Fortezza PC cards clearing the way for commercial firms to work with the Defense Department on security products such as smart cards.

Digital Government

NASA's fire site sizzles; NPR's page aims to be plain

It is wildfire season again, and NASA has launched a new World Wide Web page designed to bring uptodate information about fires to the public and the scientific community. Point your browser to modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/fire_atlas/fires.html to view satellite and infrared images of the most recent bl

Digital Government

Preparing for CSOC launch

The two teams bidding to provide space operations services to NASA are proposing 'virtual mission control centers' that will tap Internet and other commercial standards for data acquisition and communications. Boeing North American Inc.'s Space Systems Division and Lockheed Martin Space Mission Sys

Digital Government

NASA lifts off with ODIN

In what may mark a dramatic shift in the government's management of desktop PCs, NASA last week awarded contracts to seven vendors under a governmentwide program worth up to $13 billion for outsourcing computer hardware, software and management services. The Outsourcing Desktop Initiative for NASA

Digital Government

DOD expands use of Netscape products

The Defense Department has expanded its departmentwide contract with Netscape Communications Corp. to include several new offerings and to allow Netscape products to be used to secure topsecret communications. The license, which DOD inked with Netscape in October 1997, originally covered Communica

Digital Government

NASA taps 7 vendors for multibillion-dollar desktop outsourcing pact

NASA has selected seven vendors for its multibilliondollar governmentwide program for outsourcing desktop hardware, software and management services.

Digital Government

NASA to send weather info to pilots

NASA has selected two vendor teams to begin working on a new system to deliver advanced, realtime weather information to commercial airline pilots and operations centers. Winning team leaders Honeywell Inc. and Boeing/McDonnell Douglas Corp. each will receive up to $2.4 million over the next 18 mo

Digital Government

Report: Feds snub NIST's standards

Fourteen civilian agencies are using a commercial security technology that is not allowed under federal standards for encryption and digital signatures, according to a report released last week by the company that designed the technology.

Digital Government

Report: Agencies ignore security standard, go commercial

Fourteen civilian agencies are using a commercial security technology that is not allowed under federal standards for encryption and digital signatures, according to a report released today by the company that designed the technology.

Digital Government

FTC page provides tools for hanging up on marketers

Tired of receiving those annoying calls from telemarketers just as you are ready to sit down to dinner? If so, point your browser to www.ftc.gov/privacy to take a peek at the Federal Trade Commission's new World Wide Web page designed to inform the public on how to prevent credit bureaus, direct marketers and state departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) from sharing personal information the kind of information that may end up in telemarketers' hands.

Digital Government

Senate urges privatizing DOD finance

The Senate version of the Defense authorization bill passed last month requires the Defense Department to study the feasibility of privatizing the core operations of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Digital Government

U.S. to share Y2K nuclear data

The Pentagon plans to share data with the world's other nuclear powers to ensure that the Year 2000 millennium bug does not lead to an accidental nuclear exchange.

Digital Government

RMS joins forces with Intellisource

Intellisource Inc. and RMS Information Services Inc. announced last week that they will merge their operations into a new services integrator concern under the name The Intellisource Group. The addition of Intellisource, a Fairfield, Conn.based company that provides integrated solutions for nonco