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Vermont's AG Touts State ID Theft Efforts
by Chloe Albanesius
The federal government has not done an adequate job protecting Americans from identity theft and Congress should look to the states for examples of how to better protect consumers' privacy, Vermont's attorney general said Wednesday.
"This Congress should follow the states' lead and quickly take the necessary steps to ensure that security leaks do not lead to an identity theft epidemic in coming months and years," William Sorrell told members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing on data brokers, which have come under fire in recent months for releasing personal information about their customers to thieves.
Sorrell, a Democrat who serves as president of the National Association of Attorneys General, praised a California law that requires companies to notify customers immediately if their personal information has been accessed by an unauthorized party. This "unique and innovative law" sends the signal that states are aware of the growing problem data breaches can cause, he said. Sorrell also voiced support for laws that allow consumers to freeze their credit report should they suspect any foul play.
Meanwhile, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan Tuesday called on state lawmakers to approve two pending bills that would create a notification requirement similar to the California law in the case of a security breach. Under H.B. 1633 and S.B. 1749, any business that collects a consumers' personal information must notify those customers if their data has been inappropriately accessed.
"It seems as if every day there are more reasons to pass this legislation immediately," Madigan said in a statement. "Identity thieves do not wait to use peoples' personal and financial information to commit crimes. We should not wait to pass this legislation."
The House bill is currently pending on the floor, while the Senate version is still in committee.
Minneapolis Solicits Vendor For Wireless Plan
Minneapolis on Wednesday launched its search for a private company to provide the city with complete, wireless Internet access.
Since the 1980s, Minneapolis has had disparate patches of connectivity throughout its business district and elsewhere in the city. The company chosen to implement the city's wireless network must be able to work with existing networks to close loopholes and produce a high-speed fiber ring of seamless connectivity, according to the request for proposal (RFP) released by the city.
The RFP stressed that the city "will not own, operate or be involved in the delivery or support of any services and will not arbitrate any problems associated with such services."
City officials in August will select several companies to participate in institutional pilot projects that will help officials judge the companies' ability to handle the larger, wireless project for Minneapolis. Suggested pilot projects include a high-speed video and incident area network, a demonstration of how residents can use the Internet to develop local neighborhood Web sites or the creation of economic development zones using existing hot spots.
The city council is expected to award the contract on Jan. 13, 2006 and the network is set to be fully operational by Feb. 16, 2007.
In other news, Columbus, Ohio has selected Israeli company SuperCom to provide the city's emergency personnel with biometric smart cards. Using wireless mobile units, the cards will enable emergency personnel to track the whereabouts of their emergency "first responders" during a terrorist attack or disaster.
Illinois Governor Seeks To Require VoIP 911 Service
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday filed an amendment to a pending state bill that would require companies that provide Internet telephone service, also known as voice-over-the-Internet protocol (VoIP), to offer 911 emergency service to customers by September or risk hefty fines.
Consumers with VoIP are not automatically equipped with access to 911 services. They must activate the service via a phone call or online form, but some customers still do not receive as sophisticated service as those using traditional phone lines.
The Democratic governor's amendment to S.B. 238 would require VoIP providers to provide 911 service by Sept. 1 or seek an extension from the Illinois Commerce Commission. Extensions would only be granted to those who could prove that access to 911 would be technologically impossible by that date.
"In crisis situations, immediate access to 911 services can mean the difference between life and death," Blagojevich said in a statement. "This law will ensure that everyone has access to emergency services, no matter what technology they use to make calls."
The move comes after Texas sued VoIP provider Vonage for allegedly not clearly identifying in marketing materials that customers had to activate 911 service themselves or risk not being able to contact police during an emergency.
Virginia Partnership To Expand Broadband Network
The Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative has inked a deal with Virginia's Department of Transportation (VDOT) to install fiber-optic lines along limited access roadways as part of the state's plan to build out its high-speed Internet backbone, Gov. Mark Warner announced Wednesday. Virginia last June announced plans to provide broadband access across 700 miles of the state using tobacco settlement funds.
Under the deal announced Wednesday, the cooperative will install the lines, and VDOT will provide free, fiber-strand access for smart traffic technologies like red-light and speed cameras, traffic light synchronization and sensors.
"Wiring south side (Virginia) with broadband technology has now cleared its final hurdle," the Democratic governor said in a statement. "When I campaigned for this job, it was partly to help try to get the information age economy right, in every region of Virginia." The entire project is set to be complete by March 2006.
Drug Industry Report: Drug Importation Poses Security Risk
The importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries poses a homeland security risk and all legislation looking to facilitate the practice should be halted, according to a report released by the consulting firm headed by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani and commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which represents drug makers.
The study said the nation's drug supply is in danger of corruption by organized crime, drug traffickers and terrorists, so the cost benefits of importation are not worth the security risk. "The press for legislative action to open the borders should be halted until the issues presented can be sufficiently resolved," the report said.
"We encourage all Americans to turn to these safe and credible methods before putting their health at risk buying unregulated drugs from a Web site or another country," PhRMA President and CEO W.J. (Billy) Tauzin, the former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in a statement.
West Virginia Developing Education Technology Plan
As part of an effort to help craft a state education technology plan, West Virginia's first lady was in Charleston Tuesday soliciting information about how public schools use certain technologies.
"We want to know what technology initiatives are and aren't working in our schools," Gayle Manchin said in a statement. The state's "Speak Up" program is asking citizens to provide information about tech-focused professional development, attitudes towards technology and solutions to tech-related concerns.
State officials will be interviewing teachers until April 18 and will speak with students April 19 - 22. "We must look to the future and analyze our technology programs," said State Superintendent of Schools David Stewart.
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