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Massachusetts Unveils Info-Sharing Center
by Chloe Albanesius
Massachusetts officials on Wednesday announced the launch of a homeland security "fusion center" in Framingham.
The center intends to filter security information from the federal Homeland Security Department and the FBI to the necessary state and local officials in as timely a manner as possible, according to Gov. Mitt Romney.
Raytheon was awarded a contract to develop software that can analyze incoming intelligence information, Romney, a Republican, said. The company estimates that it will take about six months to fully implement its technology. The center is expected to be up and running by 2007.
Each of the state's five homeland security regions has been awarded $2 million to work with the state police, the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office on an adequate plan of action should the federal government need to disseminate information to local officials.
The center will be the first such facility in New England. There are fully operational centers in Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, New York and Pennsylvania.
"Terrorists may plan globally, but when they act, they act locally," said Public Safety Secretary Edward Flynn. Successful plans rely on information that "can be put in the context of regional and national intelligence."
In other news, Iowa State University on Monday unveiled a laboratory intended to simulate and investigate cyber attacks. The Internet-Simulation Event and Attack Generation Environment (ISEAGE) is funded by a $500,000 grant from the Justice Department.
"ISEAGE recreates Internet traffic and everything involved in a large or small-scale attack," said Doug Jacobson, the program's director.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut auditor last week delivered a report to Gov. Jodi Rell that detailed shortcomings with state procedures for licensing drivers. It suggested, among other things, that the state must automate its licensing procedures and more adequately monitor any suspicious changes to drivers' records. Rell said the findings were "disturbing" but that she will introduce legislation to fix some of the problems.
In Missouri, GOP Gov. Matt Blunt announced Friday that the state will join the AMBER Alert Web portal, a nationwide communication system intended to alert law enforcement and citizens after a child is abducted.
In other news, Barbara Richardson, New Mexico's first lady, on Wednesday launched an Internet safety campaign intended to teach children about avoiding online predators.
Georgia Bills Tackle Privacy, Security
The nation's governors this week took action on a number of tech-related measures, with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue leading the pack.
The Republican governor on Tuesday signed a bill, S.B. 46, that requires wireless providers to obtain permission from consumers before publishing their cell phone numbers in a wireless directory or database.
"With the prevalence of mobile phones, there is a need to protect Georgians from unsolicited mobile calls by telemarketers and others," Perdue said in a statement. "It only adds insult to injury when you have to pay to receive a junk phone call."
Perdue signed several other privacy-related bills including a bill, H.B. 340, that prohibits educational institutions from disclosing information about their donors. Another measure he signed, H.B. 577, restricts the use of fingerprints for use in obtaining identifying documents.
Perdue also signed a bill, S.B. 127, that imposes penalties for secretly installing software on a user's computer, while S.B. 6 authorizes the Georgia Crime Information Center to share information for background checks on those who would be working with children.
Perdue also tackled taxes, signing a bill, H.B. 5, that provides a state sales-and-use tax exemption for schools purchasing computer equipment. The governor also signed H.R. 113, a resolution that supports the repeal of the federal excise tax on telecommunications. Meanwhile, another resolution, S.R. 298 creates an emerging technologies committee within the legislature.
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire was equally busy this week, signing several bills including a measure, S.S.B 5939, that requires law enforcement to provide victims of identity theft with copies of their police reports. The Democratic governor also signed S.H.B. 1888, which prohibits people from misrepresenting themselves via e-mail or online in an attempt to steal personal information. Gregoire also followed in California's footsteps by signing S.S.B 6043, which requires companies to notify customers if their unencrypted, personal information is accessed in an unauthorized manner.
The governor also addressed business concerns by signing a bill, S.S.B. 5902, that creates a review process for small business innovation proposals. And Gregoire gave her signature to a bill, S.S.B. 5828, that sets forth program and financial requirements for digital technology education courses.
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed S.B. 114, giving the Public Service Commission less control over the state's telecom providers. "Our free enterprise system is based on competition, and history shows that when there is more competition, and fair competition, the result is lower prices, better service and more choices for consumers," Riley said in a statement.
Not all tech legislation, however, made it past every governor's desk this week. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, a Republican, vetoed a bill, S.B. 78, that, would have imposed fees on telephone bills to fund emergency services.
The bill was "well intended," Owens said in his veto message, but it could allow for fees on things other than 911 service, "potentially representing a phantom fee/tax increase on telephone users."
Other state tech bills that were signed this week include:
Nebraska's L.B. 401, which allows residents living outside the state during an election to e-mail or fax their votes to the secretary of state's office.
Ohio's S.B. 99, which says those who sell goods online do not have to obtain an auctioneer's license.
Texas' S.B. 101, which requires the electronic monitoring of tuition exemptions for veterans.
Michigan Working On Wireless Strategy
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is interested in developing a wireless strategy for the state, according to the state's chief information officer.
Granholm last week e-mailed CIO Terri Takai and asked her to come up with ideas for providing statewide, wireless access, Takai said Friday at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers' mid-year meeting.
"Now my staff back at the ranch [are trying to] take a very complex subject and get it down into a few action steps," she said.
West Virginia Taps New CIO
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday selected Kyle Schafer as the state's new chief technology officer.
Schafer was most recently the director of technology, infrastructure and design for NiSource Corporate Services. In his new state job, he will oversee West Virginia's newly created Office of Technology. The office was established to help lower total computing costs, develop an easy-access Web portal, introduce new and emerging technologies, and enhance cyber-security procedures, according to Manchin, a Democrat.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen last week announced that the state's homeland security director, Major Gen. Jerry Humble, will be leaving his post by month's end.
Humble said in a statement that he must "attend to some personal issues," but said he had developed a "very comprehensive and proactive program that encompasses federal, state and local governments, industry and our citizens."
Bredesen said Humble's service has been "exemplary." He is in the process of hiring his replacement and expects an announcement shortly.
In New Mexico, Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Forrest Smith as director of the public safety department's office of emergency management. The Democratic governor praised Smith's local experience, which will enable him to "keep the state prepared from anything to floods and fires to other potential emergencies."
Meanwhile, Richardson also welcomed Bob Kuckuck as the interim director of the Los Alamos National Lab. On Wednesday Richardson also applauded the University of California, Bechtel National, BWX Technologies and Washington Group International for joining forces on a bid to operate the Los Alamos lab. The group combines "scientific strengths ... with strong management and operational practices," he said.
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