Fear factor

Spike in malicious hacking creates need for vigorous action at state level.

AT&T bulks up

Deal with BellSouth puts more wireless, other services on tap.

Market Watch: Public market winds of change blow for federal ITs

Public capital markets have been receptive to federal IT companies since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then, more than $4 billion of equity has been raised for federal companies via initial or follow-on public offerings.

Map the money

GIS providers face down advances by Microsoft, Google.

Inside track: In brief

DISA seeks nuke controls ? Liquids not allowed ? Social Security seeks bulk data help

Infotech and the law: Patent system faces extreme makeover

With a burgeoning backlog of patent applications for review, the Patent and Trademark Office recently proposed hiring 1,000 new examiners each year for the next five years.

Homeland watch: In brief

DHS hands out infrastructure cash ? Facial recognition at 60 feet? ... Open standards urged for SBI-Net.

Homeland watch: In brief

DHS hands out infrastructure cash ? Facial recognition at 60 feet? ... Open standards urged for SBI-Net.

Buy Lines: When it's time to change, you'll be glad for IPv6

Internet Protocol version 6 will be worth the pain. Change without warrant is for naught. But in technology, change is not only better, it's inevitable.

More questions than answers

Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff answered one big border surveillance question last month by naming the Boeing Co. as the prime contractor for the Secure Border Initiative Network. But in answering that question, he raised a raft of new ones.

Conservative or progressive?

Telecoms juggle varying approaches to networking among federal agencies.

DHS begins deploying e-passport readers

The Homeland Security Department has installed radio frequency identification device readers capable of receiving data from electronic passports at San Francisco International Airport.

DHS to get hefty boost in funding bill

The House is scheduled today to begin considering a final agreement on the fiscal 2007 Homeland Security Department spending bill, which increases the department's budget to $34.8 billion ? a $2.3 billion increase.

Doan wants overhaul of governmentwide acquisition contracting

General Services Administration administrator Lurita Doan is working toward having all commodity IT buys facilitated through her agency, in order to achieve volume discounts in federal procurements.

House Dems blast lack of fed policy change for small biz

Democrats on the House Small Business Committee today said Congress has failed in its efforts to help small businesses, specifically sighting its lack of action over the last two years.

Travel initiative in limbo on Hill

The deadline for implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative appears to be reinstated following last-minute activity from Congress this week.

House extends SBA programs

The House voted Tuesday to extend the Small Business Administration's programs until Feb. 2, 2007, giving Congress more time to complete a review and reauthorization of the agency.

Border credential requirements, IT programs are considerations in spending plan

House and Senate conferees recently cleared a fiscal 2007 Homeland Security Department spending bill that would increase discretionary spending to $34.8 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion over the administration's request.

Transparency in health IT pursued by HHS

In an effort to make health care quality and prices more transparent, HHS is seeking the help of physicians, hospitals, insurance companies, employers and consumers for a new health IT initiative.

Corporations embrace tax e-filing

More than 12,500 of the nation's largest corporations have electronically filed their 2005 corporate tax returns, the IRS said.