Technology

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is dropping a regulatory turkey on everyone’s doorstep. On November 20, 2011, the final rules of the “Open Internet Order,” also known as net neutrality, become final. These new regulations will significantly affect the ability of Internet providers to adopt new technology and adapt to the ever-changing needs of subscribers.

As the White House, Congress and particularly the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction look for ways to reduce spending and enhance revenues, close scrutiny is being given to both the allocation of broadband spectrum and the use of voluntary spectrum auctions to raise revenue for deficit reduction.

On September 21, 2011, the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled “The Next IT Revolution? Cloud Computing Opportunities and Challenges.” Chaired by Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), the hearing highlighted the economic benefits of cloud computing, including the cost savings that could be realized when switching to the cloud through increased productivity and enhanced sustainability. Witnesses included Michael Capellas, chairman and CEO of Virtual Computing Environment; Dr. Dan Reed, Corporate Vice President, Technology Policy Group, Microsoft Corporation; Mr. Nick Combs, Federal Chief Technology Officer, EMC Corporation; and Dr. David McClure, Associate Administrator, Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies, General Services Administration (GSA).

After reviewing information technology (IT) program management at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Assistant Secretary for the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) Roger Baker decided to change the way VA manages IT development, and implemented a new system called the Program Management Accountability System (PMAS) on June 19, 2009. On August 18, 2011, this new system was touted as a success in a blog that was posted on the CIO.gov website, holding it up as an example for other government agencies to follow.

On August 16, 2011, CAGW recently filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on a petition from the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) seeking clarification on the commission’s interpretation of Section 652 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This section imposes cross-ownership restrictions on cable operators and incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) in order to prevent the two then-dominant service providers in each local area from merging and thereby controlling the only two wires to a customer’s premises.

On July 11, 2011, President Obama issued Executive Order No. 13579 to improve and reform the regulatory process for government agencies. How this Executive Order will be implemented remains to be seen, as some agencies are forging ahead with costly, unnecessary and burdensome regulations that contravene the intent of the Executive Order.

A report was released on May 26, 2011 by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that exposed wasteful spending at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The report found $3 billion in mismanagement, with more than $1.2 billion of NSF’s total budget of $6.9 billion for fiscal year 2010 squandered due to waste, fraud, and duplication.

Google is the world’s largest search engine, and Android by some estimates is the most popular mobile platform, but the company is facing several problems related to privacy and security, as well as the validity of claims made in regard to software designed for use by the government. To Be Certified or Not to Be […]