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Prosecutors Irked By Data Firm's Silence
by Chloe Albanesius
A data brokerage firm failed to give state attorneys general information about a recent security breach by their requested July 25 deadline, according to Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna.
Forty-four attorneys general last month wrote to Linda Ford of CardSystems Solutions and requested more detailed information on how a data breach at the company had affected the officials' constituents.
Though the attorney generals "were encouraged by initial contacts by CardSystems that the company would comply with our request, we are disappointed that we have not received a formal response and documentation" by the deadline, McKenna said Wednesday.
He noted a Washington state law requiring consumer notification of data breaches that took effect this week as the sort of statute that CardSystems and other data brokerages will have to satisfy in the future. "Thus far, the company has failed to provide a plan as to how it intends to notify consumers and prevent a similar data leak in the future," he said. "These failures are not acceptable. We are in contact with other states to consider our next course of action."
John Perry, CardSystems' chief executive, last week told Congress that his company is on the verge of collapse as a result of the breach.
In other news, Florida Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist on Wednesday announced that his office now will send e-mail fraud warnings directly to consumers. The warnings previously were only posted on his Web site.
Virginia Attorney General Judith Williams Jagdmann on Thursday will hold a press conference in Richmond to outline plans her office has to protect military personnel from identity theft.
Meanwhile Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and acting Gov. Richard Codey of New Jersey this week called on residents to support their states' "do not call" lists against unwanted telemarketing calls.
At issue is a petition before the commission filed by several marketing and banking groups that seeks to give authority over interstate telemarketing calls to the FCC, not the states. The move could invalidate the two states' laws, as well as those in Florida, Indiana and North Carolina, because they have stronger provisions than those in the federal do-not-call statute.
"We cannot allow this program to be undermined," Codey said. He urged residents to voice their support before the FCC's public comment period ends July 29.
"We need to make certain that the FCC puts consumers, not big telemarketers, first," Doyle said.
Governors Push Economic Development
As the nation's colleges and universities seek to graduate more students in science and engineering, Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell on Monday signed legislation intended to spur the study of nanotechnology, molecular manufacturing and advanced technologies.
Under the bill, S.A. 13, the state's Higher Education Department commissioner and Office of Workforce Competitiveness will have to inform the legislature by Jan. 1, 2006, how best to further incorporate those areas of study into Connecticut's colleges and universities.
"We are laying the groundwork for creating a high-performing economy," the Republican governor said in a statement.
In other news, Wisconsin's Doyle on Tuesday announced that the state's fiscal 2006 budget, which he signed Monday, includes $105,000 for an electrical engineering bachelor's degree program at the University of Wisconsin at Fox Valley.
Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell on Monday gave $5.44 million to the Greene County Industrial Development Authority for a technology park. The funds will be administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, a seven-member board created to oversee programs created by Rendell's economic stimulus package.
The county will use the funds for infrastructure development at 14 sites that were used for strip mining. When complete, the park is expected to create more than 250 jobs.
In Virginia, Gov. Mark Warner on Monday announced that the information technology and network solutions company SI International will open a customer-service center in Dickenson County and create 100 new jobs. And in Texas, Cingular Wireless was awarded a five-year, $8 million contract to provide voice and data services to Houston employees.
Iowa Details Disability Services Online
In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson on Tuesday announced that the state's Web site now will include a section with information on state disability services.
In addition, the Iowa Human Rights Department and the state's information technology enterprise will work with the disabled community to make sure agency Web sites are accessible to as many people as possible. "We have a responsibility to ensure our most vulnerable populations can access state government services quickly and easily," Pederson said.
In other news, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle on Tuesday released $830,000 in additional funds to Kaneohe Elementary School for upgrades to telecommunications and electrical systems.
"The upgrades are necessary to accommodate the school's high-technology needs, including the Internet and other online learning resources," the Republican governor said in a statement. "They will foster a more conducive learning environment and allow students to excel in their classes."
The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2006, already has received $497,000 in funds.
Alabama Approves Strict Sex-Offender Bill
Alabama lawmakers successfully passed sex-offender legislation during their special session that would require paroled offenders to wear electronic monitoring bracelets for up to 10 years after release.
Under the measure, S.B. 53, those who are equipped with the devices would have to reimburse the state about $15 per day for their use, unless they are considered to be living in poverty. The Board of Pardons and Paroles or a court could put ankle bracelets on those who are on probation, under officer supervision or on pre-trial release.
Gov. Bob Riley is expected the sign the measure. Attorney General Troy King had been wearing a monitoring device himself for just over a week to raise awareness about the bill, which he removed Wednesday after it secured passage.
In other Alabama news, Riley announced Wednesday that the state would provide students in the fourth through 12th grades with homework help via www.homeworkalabama.org. Beginning Aug. 1, daily from 3 p.m. to midnight, the Web site will provide live homework help on math, science, social studies and English.
California Secures Port Security Grant
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that the state has secured $5 million in state grants for port security.
The money will be split among 11 ports, including $750,000 for Los Angeles and San Diego and $450,000 for San Francisco. It will be used to buy communications equipment, cameras, underwater surveillance devices and protective equipment for emergency responders, the Republican governor said.
The announcement comes a day after Schwarzenegger, New York Gov. George Pataki and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wrote a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations committees, urging them to allocate security funds based on risk, not population.
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