Because I never want to go outside into the frozen tundra that is DC ever again, expect multiple posts from me over the next week or so. To those of you in the east, keep warm! Here’s your Weekly Washington Headlines And Tech…
Key Takeaway
NASCIO Releases Federal Advocacy Priorities
You can find the press release here, and the list of priorities here. For those with no time for links, there are four advocacy goals backed by four key issues that must be addressed to reach those goals. The goals: 1) Cybersecurity: Collaborating to Secure the Public Sector; 2) Building and Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network; 3) A Call for Greater Information Sharing; and, 4) Implementation of OMB Grant Guidance Reform.
Expect a deeper dive on each of these issues in the near future right here on the NASCIO Blog. While these are big issues where a ‘silver bullet’ solution is unlikely, they are areas where real progress can be made. Cybersecurity is getting a bipartisan look. FirstNet is hiring significant staff and must begin the necessary planning work with states this year. Information sharing is becoming more than buzz. OMB has released its “omni circular,” which makes significant changes to IT business practices, and will be asking agencies to adjust their grant guidance accordingly over the course of the year. Our political forecast: we think this could be a big year for building the federal and state relationship when it comes to information technology.
Other Buzz
House Homeland Marks Up Bipartisan Cyber Bill
On January 15, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies of the House Homeland Security Committee marked up and approved HR 3696, “the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013.” Sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) along with the Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Subcommittee Chair Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the bill codifies many of the actions taken under the President’s Cybersecurity Executive Order (13636), including information sharing activities between federal, state, and local governments and their private sector counterparts. The bill also clarifies that the bill does not create new regulations or new regulatory authority to deter cyber threats. With the Cybersecurity Act of 2013 (S. 1353) lingering in the Senate, the passage of this bill through the House would be a significant step for kickstarting hopes for bipartisan cybersecurity legislation in 2014. A video of the hearing and the text of the bill, including committee amendments, can be found here.
FirstNet Quarterly Meeting
On January 15, FirstNet held its first quarterly meeting with the state points of contact. FirstNet General Manager Bill D’Agostino, Jr. and Deputy General Manager TJ Kennedy briefed attendants on updates, network planning, and state outreach and consultation. The slide deck from the event can be found here.
Your Weekly Techbytes:
Agencies get specific instructions to improve information sharing, safeguarding
Cybersecurity could be the next bipartisan breakthrough
Net neutrality back in FCC's court
Analysts Estimate FCC Can Haul $46 Billion in Spectrum Revenue in 2 Years
Collaboration Moves Utah Toward Next-Gen 911
What to Expect from GAO this Year
A Mission for Big Data in Government: How Hyper-Personalization Can Transform Customer Service
Chicago Pioneers Open Source Analytics Program
Government Data Saves Lives