It’s the pre-NASCIO conference, pre-National Cyber Security Awareness Month, intro to the best season (Fall), pre-season NHL, Congressional campaign district work period edition of the Weekly WHAT! I look forward to talking with many of you about these and other issues next week in Nashville.
Here’s what’s on tap:
Key Takeaway: NASCIO Files E-rate Comments
On September 19, NASCIO submitted comments to the FCC regarding next steps in the E-rate program, which provides high speed broadband connection subsidies for schools and libraries. NASCIO’s comments on the FCC’s July 11 Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking stressed the need for state flexibility. NASCIO’s comments focused on a number of issues, including the best opportunities for the FCC to provide incentives that promote regional applications known as “consortium,” and ways to harness master contracts and bulk purchasing. To read NASCIO’s comments in their entirety, click here.
Other Buzz
FirstNet Opens Public Comment Period, Releases Network RFI
Aside from welcoming five new FirstNet Board Members during their Directors meeting on September 17, they passed two resolutions of note. The first requests public comment on their interpretations of FirstNet’s enabling legislation, The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The second approved the issuance of an RFI and draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) that FirstNet hopes will guide them in deciding on how best to build their nationwide network.
The request for public comments, available here, asks key questions such as who will use the network, what the definition of rural might look like (important as FirstNet must meet certain requirements of build-out in rural areas), and user fees. NASCIO is currently reviewing the notice; responses are due October 24.
The RFI, available here, is geared more towards industry. FirstNet hopes it will help them “understand industry's capabilities, evaluate review perspective best procurement approach(es), and determine how to best leverage existing capabilities and best practices to meet public safety needs.” That said, the “draft Statement of Objectives” will be of interest to all stakeholder. The SOO lands somewhere between a mission statement and business plan, and includes a Statement of Need, Scope of Work, and an overview of Program Objectives.
Feds Begin Working Groups On DATA Act Implementation
Federal authorities have begun high-level work that will ultimately lead to implementing the the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act). Passed unanimously by Congress and signed into law on May 9, it is the nation's first federal legislative mandate for data transparency, requiring U.S. federal spending data to be published online in an open, standardized format.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Department of Treasury have begun work with a cross-section of federal agencies and authorities on three major issues: the definitions and data elements that will make up the standards, mapping where the data elements are currently held across various federal systems, and what the data exchange format may look like.
Congress Punts On Spending Until After Elections
Last week, both chambers passed a continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through December 11, 2014, prior to heading home to campaign until the November elections. This will ensure there will not be a government shutdown in the near-term. The Continuing Resolution makes a small rescission to all accounts to pay for ongoing efforts to fight Ebola, and attempts to punt a slew of thorny and significant issues, such as extending the charter of the Ex-Im Bank and providing authority for the White House to deal with several ongoing international issues you may have read about in the news lately. Check out the White House blog on the CR if you want to know more.
Techbytes
NSTIC & States attempt to Tackle the Flaws of Online Passwords
Looking for cybersecurity talent? Train an intern.
And... have you checked out the NASCIO 2014 Cybersecurity Awareness Resource Guide?
The 'Rock Star' Government CIO, Redefined
HHS IG Can't Hack Healthcare.gov
Twitter publishes a handbook for government (and campaigns)
X Prize announces $15 million for open source, scalable learning software
Why is Cybersecurity Legislation So Hard?
Pew's Voter Info Project Offers Online and Mobile Tools for 2014