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FTC Releases Staff Report on Municipal Wireless Broadband
In its September 2006 Staff Report, the FTC summarized its research on
wireless broadband Internet services, and provided its perspective on the
competition issues that policymakers may encounter when considering
municipal wireless Internet provision or related legislation.
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2006/10/V060021municipalprovwirelessinternet.pdf

Milwaukee and other Wisconsin cities are gearing up for a high-stakes
battle over a new form of television
Local officials are debating whether AT&T Corp.'s planned Internet video
service would interfere with cable TV franchises that now reap millions of
dollars for municipal treasuries
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=521662

Minneapolis picks Wi-Fi firm
Consumers would get high-speed Net access at $20 a month for a
decade
http://www.startribune.com/154/story/639151.html

The Phantom Broadband Problem
That the U.S. is behind at least 10 other nations in terms of broadband
line penetration is common--but not quite accurate--knowledge today, fed
by myriad media reporting the same
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19578

Municipal Wireless Snapshot
In a series of qualitative research and analysis reports, Craig Settles
provides an overview of major issues impacting municipalities' pursuit of
citywide broadband wireless networks.
http://www.successful.com/snapshot.html

FCC pushes for broadband over power lines
Federal regulators renewed their push for a wider rollout of what has
been hailed as a viable "third pipe" for the many areas where broadband
choices have been limited. If broadband over power lines takes off,
Federal Communications Commission members say, more Americans,
particularly in rural and underserved areas, will be able get high-speed
Internet access
http://news.com.
com/FCC+pushes+for+broadband+over+power+lines/2100-1028_3-
6101925.html

State and local agencies struggle with e-records
The biggest struggle for state and local government efforts in complying
with regulations is handling of electronic information, according to data
from a soon-to-be-published survey
http://www.fcw.com/article95576-08-07-06-Web&newsletter%3Dyes

Portland, Oregon’s Wi-Fi gets tangled start
Construction of Portland's wireless Internet cloud has yet to begin, but the
project already has encountered two notable glitches
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?
/base/business/1154763044300670.xml&coll=7

Health and Human Services Chief: New Health Data Standards Coming
Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt told the nation's
governors that President Bush will issue an executive order this fall
requiring health systems that do business with the federal government to
adhere to a new set of technology and quality standards, and asked the
governors to join the effort
http://www.governing.com/news/8nga2.htm

New cable law will let Verizon vie for TV service
In New Jersey, phone companies will be able to sell fiber-optic television
service statewide under legislation signed by Gov. Jon Corzine that turns
up the volume on competition for the first time since the cable industry
was born more than 30 years ago
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-
8/1154752049242710.xml&coll=1

Medina, Ohio Should Be Wary of Muni Broadband
It seems as if Medina, Ohio officials are relying on the “Field of Dreams”
economic development model--“if you build it, they will come”--when
promoting a proposed municipal-owned broadband Internet service
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19440

Nationwide 4G Wireless Broadband Initiative Announced
Sprint Nextel Corp. yesterday announced plans to develop and deploy a
fourth generation (4G) nationwide broadband mobile network
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=100504

Wagering on Wi-Fi
Will municipal Wi-FI’s current growing pains give way to ubiquitous
coverage, or will the wireless boom fall back to earth?
http://www.fcw.com/article95330-07-24-06-Print

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Predicts Passage Of Narrow
Bill
House Energy and Commerce Chairman told technology industry leaders
that Congress can get a telecommunications bill done, but he predicted
that lawmakers will produce a narrow bill
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-OYUK1153768152185.html

Portland, Oregon gives high-five to Wi-Fi
Contract - The City Council approves the building of a wireless network to
give most residents free Internet access
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?
/base/business/115336237056510.xml&coll=7

2006 Digital County Award Winners Announced
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=100280

Microsoft relents on open documents
Plug-in will help archiving, data sharing
http://www.gcn.com/print/25_20/41340-1.html

Network Neutrality: Who Pays for Bandwidth Management?
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19245

More Than 84 Percent of North American Enterprises Suffered a
Security Breach in Past Year
A new CA security survey of 642 large North American organizations
shows that more than 84 percent experienced a security incident over the
past 12 months and that the number of breaches continues to rise
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=100079

New Business Roundtable report
The federal government and private sector are poorly prepared for a
"cyber Katrina," with no coordinated plan for restoring and recovering the
Internet after a major disruption, according to a new Business
Roundtable report
http://www.businessroundtable.
org/pdf/20060622002CyberReconFinal6106.pdf

Senate Panel Nixes 'Build-Out' Amendment
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday rejected a plan to
require Bell telephone companies providing video services to expand
those offerings to all neighborhoods throughout the regions where they
offer service
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-TGSU1151523448904.html

Advice on Effective Use of Municipal Wireless
“Fighting the Good Fight for Municipal Wireless” by business strategist
Craig Settles offers insights on how to use municipal wireless and
mobile workforce applications to improve your government's efficiency,
responsiveness, and fiscal strength
http://www.icma.org/main/ns.asp?nsid=2443&mgtinsite=1

Minnesota asks industry to lend it some free 'geeks'
Minnesota wants the best minds in the computer business to come work
in state government - for free. The state is circulating a proposal to high-
tech firms and large corporations asking them to lend computer experts
to the Office of Enterprise Technology for up to a year to work on an
ambitious project to reinvent the state's computer network
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/507857.html

U.S. Sees Broadband Explosion
Broadband adoption in American homes grew by 40 percent in the past
year, twice the growth rate of the year before, according to the Pew
Internet and American Life Project. That’s good news that should be
followed by more if technology is allowed to move forward, unfettered by
heavy government regulations
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19247

Institute Slams Net Neutrality Legislation
Saying that proposed changes to the telecom bill currently working its way
through the U.S. Senate will hurt consumers, the American Consumer
Institute has announced that it's pressing senators to leave any regulatory
provisions out of their legislation
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1979959,00.asp

RFI Issued for Wireless Network in Pierce County
The Rainier Communications Consortium, representing Pierce County
and 14 municipalities, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the
best ways to deploy municipal broadband system to serve the needs of
its member jurisdictions and their residents
http://muniwireless.com/municipal/bids/1232/

Telecom Bill Moves from House to Senate
The National League of Cities continues to lobby for the protection of local
authority as Congress considers legislation to rewrite the nation’s
telecommunications laws. The House approved its bill and local
governments testified on the Senate version
http://www.nlc.
org/Newsroom/Nation_s_Cities_Weekly/Weekly_NCW/2006/06/19/10844.
cfm

Baltimore City Public School Buses and Pupils Safer With GPS
Student loading and unloading is monitored and recorded using a
student list with barcodes and readers
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99922

Changes In Latest Senate Draft Bill Affect 'Net Neutrality,' Anti-Piracy
Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, made hundreds of
changes to his third and latest draft of telecommunications legislation,
aides said
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-NTQA1150746577355.html

Broadband access grows in Missouri
Citing updated state telecommunications laws allowing greater pricing
flexibility, AT&T announced that it would invest $28 million to expand high-
speed Internet access across the state, including bringing new service to
nine towns by the end of the year
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/14811526.htm

Telecommunications bill passes House
The House of Representatives has passed its version of a bill that would
establish a national system for franchising broadband service.
Proponents say the bill could lead to more competition among cable
providers, resulting in lower costs for consumers, according to CNN.com.
Opponents say it doesn’t do enough to ensure that lower income and
rural areas would get broadband service or to protect “net neutrality.”
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/06/09/cable.phone.tv.ap/index.
html

Google forging ahead with Wi-Fi efforts
Google will begin a phased rollout of a free wireless Net access service
in its hometown of Mountain View, Calif., this summer and is still
hammering out details with San Francisco officials for its citywide Wi-Fi
service there
http://news.com.com/Google+forging+ahead+with+Wi-Fi+efforts/2100-
7351_3-6081264.html

DHS doesn't take cyberattack threats seriously, former IG says
The United States and the federal Department of Homeland Security are
"manifestly and woefully unprepared" for a cyberattack, according to Clark
Ervin, a former DHS inspector general
http://www.fcw.com/article94792-06-06-06-Web&newsletter%3Dyes

House Showdown Set On 'Net Neutrality'
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., indicated that amendments
designed to strengthen network neutrality language in pending
telecommunications legislation would be allowed when the bill reaches
the floor
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-VOCF1149712117408.html

Locals Step up Fight for Video Franchises
Despite their eagerness for competition in video services, local
government officials are wary of bills before Congress that would create a
national video franchise process managed by the Federal
Communications Commission
http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_locals_step_fight/

Letter to Congress
In a letter to Congress, governors expressed their desire that the goals of
the Communications Opportunity Promotion and Enhancement Act be
met in a way that respects state sovereignty and does not violate the
basic principles of federalism
http://tinyurl.com/mwf4l

House GOP Leaders Pushing Floor Vote On Telecom Bill
House Republican leaders are pressing forward with the Bell company-
led effort to pass telecommunications legislation and have scheduled the
measure -- designed to make it easier for the Bells to enter the video
service market -- for a floor vote that likely will take place June 9th
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-RUDJ1149532536938.html

States Taking The Lead On Telecom Law Overhaul
State lawmakers have not waited on their federal counterparts this year
for legislation to overhaul existing telecommunications statutes.
The Bell telecommunications companies are still pushing Congress
hard for a bill to speed their entry into the video market by allowing them
to sidestep local governments and apply for nationwide franchises.
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-EQVN1149621495507.html

In the end, it's all one big network
What used to be called telecommunications has been merged into a
global communications technology in which the distinction between the
applications being delivered and the media used to deliver it are
disappearing
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/40959-1.html

Private sector declares open season on municipal wireless
Mesh networks offer the potential to cover a large area through a series of
connected “hot spots,” each offering wireless access to the Internet. The
hot spots are linked to create a mesh, which is tied into a hard-wired
network through a series of extraction points
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/21_9/statelocal/28436-1.
html

Local Government Organizations Opposed to Federal Telecom Bill
NLC, NACO, NATOA and other organizations joined in this concise
statement to Congress expressing their opposition to the
Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006
http://www.natoa.
org/public/articles/COPE_House_Floor_Assoc_Letter_052406.pdf

Surveillance, intrusion detection top priorities
As Congress prepares to approve increased funding for port security
grants, contractors say the money is likely to pay for more comprehensive
surveillance, domain awareness and information-sharing IT systems
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/21_10/federal/28652-1.html

Studies Link Franchise Reform and Cable Savings
Franchise reform could net an annual economic payoff of $9 billion for U.
S. consumers, according to an extensive new report from George Mason
University
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19053

Company: Hackers can crack top antivirus program
Symantec Corp.'s leading antivirus software, which protects some of the
world's largest corporations and U.S. government agencies, suffers from
a flaw that lets hackers seize control of computers to steal sensitive data,
delete files or implant malicious programs, researchers said
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/05/25/antivirus.flaw.ap/index.html

Expanded Worker Checks Would Use Faulty System
A federal database program that has had trouble distinguishing between
legal and illegal immigrants could dramatically expand to affect every U.S.
employer and worker under provisions of the immigration legislation
being considered by Congress. Fixing the database and rolling it out
nationwide could cost more than $1 billion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/05/24/AR2006052402400.html

Seattle Seeks Partners for Broadband Network
On May 22nd the City of Seattle issued a "Request for Interest", seeking
private partners for the construction of a fiber to the premises (FTTP)
broadband network. The "request" provides details and solicits
responses by July 7th
http://www.mrsc.org/rfps/S42FiberRFI.pdf

Unusual Alliances Emerge In Net Neutrality Debate
Recording artists including Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor have joined
forces with the Christian Coalition, Gun Owners of America and Google to
lobby for network neutrality legislation. Such legislation would block high-
speed Internet providers from creating different lines for high-bandwidth
traffic and charging higher rates for faster service
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-GCBA1148490433740.html

New Jersey Assembly Clears Statewide Franchising Bill
A video franchising proposal in New Jersey that has long been the
subject of fierce debate in cleared a major legislative hurdle; The state
Assembly approved a measure which would let video providers obtain
statewide franchises
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-GOGF1148413626104.html

Spam filter gobbles up phone bid
County school officials in Georgia are blaming an overeager spam filter
for capturing and killing a Kennesaw company's e-mailed bid to save the
school system $250,000 on telephone services
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/cobb/stories/0523metspam.html

Georgia Governor Announces Funding for Wireless Broadband
Networks
Georgia Governor announced the availability of funding to assist local
communities to establish wireless broadband networks through the
Wireless Communities Georgia Program
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99560

Georgia Not Waiting for Federal Reform
Georgia has joined a list of states that are not waiting around for the
federal government to deregulate communications policy. Georgia
passed legislation in April that effectively removes regulation of
broadband, VoIP, and wireless service
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=19052

Feds, states seek credentialing strategy
Protecting the public health, particularly in emergencies, requires
sophisticated information systems that can quickly and accurately
assess the qualifications of doctors and nurses in multiple jurisdictions,
said panelists at a recent meeting of health care information technology
specialists in Washington, D.C.
http://www.fcw.com/article94540-05-16-06-Web&newsletter%3Dyes

City offers broadband connections using existing power network
Last fall, Manassas, Va., deployed the first citywide commercial
application of broadband over power line (BPL) technology in the United
States. The city-owned network provides alternative high-speed Internet
access to residents and businesses over the electric lines that already
connect their homes and offices
http://americancityandcounty.
com/mag/government_lining_internet_service/

First responders in a jam?
A Florida company that sells cellular-jamming equipment is challenging
Federal Communications Commission rules prohibiting state and local
governments from using the devices
http://www.gcn.com/print/25_12/40734-1.html

Local Government Concerns Lead Senate Committee to Rethink
Telecom Bill
http://www.nlc.org/Newsroom/Press_Room/10407.cfm

Regional Mobile Broadband Network Deployed in Chicago Area
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99532

Lessons from the Front Lines of E-Government
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99535

South Carolina Approves Bill For Statewide Video Franchises
South Carolina lawmakers cleared legislation to overhaul the state's
video-franchising rules. Under the bill, local regulators would lose their
authority over franchising and their direct oversight on consumer
disputes. The proposal also would not require market entrants to provide
service in low-income or rural areas.
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-HLYJ1147896208668.html

Local Carriers, Bell Firms Battle Over Network Access
The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., heard oral arguments in a
case involving the FCC's rules for providing local telecommunications
competitors of the Bell companies with access to Bell networks at
reduced rates
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-BDPX1147896529576.html

Local Officials Express Concern Over Senate Telecom Bill
Seeking to be a partner in promoting video competition, local government
groups sent a letter last week to Sens. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) outlining their concerns with the current draft of
the Communications, Consumer’s Choice, and Broadband Development
Act of 2006 (S. 2686).
http://www.nlc.
org/Newsroom/Nation_s_Cities_Weekly/Weekly_NCW/2006/05/15/10216.
cfm

Pandemic plans give teleworking key role
Agencies at last may take teleworking seriously, as the administration
has made it a critical piece of its strategy to keep the government
operating in the face of a pandemic
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/40731-1.html

Information Technology - Paying the Minimum
Managing software licenses can be a demanding task, even for small
local governments, and penalties for violating licensing laws are stiff
http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_paying_minimum/

Power blogging debuts in Utah capitol
Utah's state Senate this year became the first legislative body to make
online "blogging" a vital tool in lawmaking.
http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?
siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=111206

New York City Pilot Program to Test Wireless Data Network for Police
and Fire Departments
The goal of this project is to evaluate networks that can provide
emergency personnel in the field with immediate access to large file
transfers, including maps, building layouts and federal and state anti-
crime and counter-terrorism databases
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99468

Verizon Warns Financial Sector on Internet Fight
Verizon Communications warns the financial services industry may not
get the secure networks it needs if Congress adopts laws governing high-
speed Internet broadband networks, according to a company memo
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1959717,00.asp

Tech Allies Split On 'Net Neutrality'
The dispute about whether the Bell telephone and cable companies must
be barred from charging Internet companies for speedier delivery has
clinched a raw nerve in Silicon Valley
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-KFJT1147205296597.html

Hanging up on leased lines
Consolidation in the telephone industry and the re-emergence of AT&T as
the industry's dominant player have dealt a blow to independent phone
companies that once leased lines from big companies like SBC, Verizon
and BellSouth
http://tinyurl.com/la8h2

State agency uses facial recognition software to fight fake IDs
The battle against identity theft and fake identification cards in Wisconsin
has gone high-tech. Officials at state Division of Motor Vehicles offices
are using facial recognition software to spot people applying fraudulently
for ID cards
http://www.gazetteextra.com/dmv_facialrecog050806.asp

National League of Cities Stands Ready To Defeat Latest Assault On
Local Franchise Authority
In the face of recent legislative developments, cities must stand together
to defeat the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement
(COPE) Act telecommunications bill that passed the House Energy and
Commerce Committee on April 26
http://www.nlc.
org/Newsroom/Nation_s_Cities_Weekly/Weekly_NCW/2006/05/08/9828.
cfm

Health and Human Services Data Not Secure: Report
A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released March 23
pointed out possible flaws in data security at the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18930

OpenDocument standard ratified
OpenDocument was ratified as a file format standard by an international
standards group, setting the stage for greater worldwide adoption of the
open-source file format technology by governments and other
organizations. Microsoft is not supporting OpenDocument and instead is
seeking approval for its own Office Open XML file formats
http://news.com.com/OpenDocument+standard+ratified/2100-1013_3-
6068075.html

Provisions In Senate Telecom Bill Mirror Those In House Counterpart
New Senate telecommunications legislation would take away the ability
of local governments to reject video franchises -- effectively granting the
former regional Bell operating companies the same expedited entry into
video services as proposed in a competing House bill
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CTZT1146684683860.html

Markey Offers Stand-Alone Bill On 'Network Neutrality' Issue
Network neutrality, the concept of preserving unfettered high-speed traffic
on the Internet, has emerged as the most hotly contested subject in
pending telecommunications measures on Capitol Hill
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-YTLB1146684168424.html

2006 Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards
The Center for Digital Government, the Center for Digital Education,
Government Technology magazine and Converge Online have
announced a call for entries for the tenth anniversary Best of the Web
(BOW) and Digital Government/Education Achievement Awards
(DGAA/DEAA) competition
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99386

Statement on Stevens-Inouye Telecom Reform Bill
The draft telecom reform bill is disappointing to those who believe the
nation's telecom industry needs to be deregulated, not simply regulated
in a different way
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18985

Request a NO Vote on Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and
Enhancement Act of 2006
The Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of
2006 (COPE / Barton-Rush) Bill federalizes local government video/cable
franchising, limits the benefits of broadband-video competition to a few
well-to-do neighborhoods, and undermines the ability of local
governments to protect consumers and manage public rights-of-way
http://www.iml.org/npps/story.cfm?ID=736

Florida Telecom Bills Wired For Collision
With only a few days left on the legislative calendar, Florida House
lawmakers aggressively are pushing a bill backed by the telephone
industry that would strip local regulators of their authority on video
franchising
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-ULBW1146600173390.html

Toll Lane Ahead for Internet Traffic?
Pricing scheme would effectively create a toll lane for content and
application providers willing to pay a premium, allowing ISPs to prioritize
traffic as they choose
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1956437,00.asp

California Agency OKs Broadband-Over-Power-Lines Test
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan allowing
providers of high-speed Internet services to test the use of electricity lines
to deliver online access throughout the state
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1956438,00.asp

Rhode Island wants statewide Wi-Fi
America's smallest state is seeking to become its first to offer a wireless
broadband network from border to border
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/05/01/rhode.island.wifi.reut/index.
html

Avian flu could cripple telecom services, Internet
Results of a recent influenza pandemic outbreak simulation show that
telecommunications systems could be overwhelmed, and the Internet
could shut down within two to four days of an outbreak
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/40631-1.html

Michigan Police Photo Database Exceeds One Million Images
The Michigan State Police recently announced the state's digital image
database that contains mugshots, scars, marks and tattoos, has
surpassed the one million images mark
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99345

County saves by buying high-tech equipment on eBay
St. Louis County, Minnesota, recently made headlines with a pilot
program using eBay to purchase $250,000 worth of communications
equipment for its sheriff’s department - for about $20,000
http://www.naco.org/CountyNewsTemplate.cfm?
template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=19883

Texas Gets Cable Competition, Lower Prices
Six months after the Texas legislature created a statewide video
franchising structure, local phone companies have been rapidly
extending multichannel video services, while rates have decreased and
consumers have become much more aware of choices
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18899

Democratic Amendments Fail To Fly In House Telecom Markup Session
Major Democratic-sponsored amendments were defeated during a
House Energy and Commerce Committee session held to vote on major
telecommunications legislation
http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-CBLI1146081231280.html

Annapolis, Maryland going wireless, and it's free
Annapolis is close to becoming the first city in the country to offer free
wireless Internet access provided by a private company and paid for
entirely by advertising.
http://tinyurl.com/k6cyb

The virtual enemy
Locals need more money and communication to defend against
cyberterrorism
http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_virtual_enemy/

Cloudy Wi-Fi skies for Florida city
More than a month after St. Cloud launched what analysts say is the
country's first free citywide Wi-Fi network, Lusardi and others in this
28,000-person Orlando suburb are still paying to use their own Internet
service providers as dead spots and weak signals keep some residents
offline and force engineers to retool the free system
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/04/24/wifi.hiccups.ap/index.html

Business School Personal Data Compromised
As many as 197,000 files containing personal information of students,
faculty, alumni and others associated with the University of Texas
business school may have been stolen from the school's computers, the
university said. A similar breach took place in 2003.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3814163.html

States not ready for hurricanes
Eight hurricane-prone states still lack interoperable communications in
the face of the 2006 storm season, according to a recent report from the
First Response Coalition
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/40518-1.html

N.Y. county mandates wireless security
New York's Westchester County has enacted a law designed to limit
identity theft by forcing local businesses to install basic security
measures for any wireless network that stores customers' credit card
numbers or other financial information
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/04/21/wireless.security.ap/index.
html

RFP checklist: Security information management
Looking to deploy a security information management solution? Before
sending out an RFP or RFI, experts say you should consider the following
http://www.gcn.com/print/25_8/40435-1.html

New York City: Automatic Vehicle Location System in Ambulances and
Fire Apparatus
All New York City ambulances and Fire Department apparatus including
engines, ladder trucks, rescue companies and battalion vehicles will be
equipped with an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system by the end of
the summer
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=99255

Governors want new safeguards for criminal justice data
With technology rapidly outpacing policy - allowing data to be more easily
shared, sold and analyzed - major improvements are needed at the state
level to better protect sensitive criminal and civil justice information,
according to the National Governors Association’s Center for Best
Practices
http://www.washingtontechnology.com/news/1_1/daily_news/28398-1.
html

Online Via Power Line
Small towns and cities are finding high-speed Internet access is as close
as their electric grid
http://www.governing.com/articles/4talk.htm

New FCC Report on High-Speed Internet Connections
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a
report on the availability of high-speed connections to the Internet in the
United States, including state-by-state data
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264744A1.pdf

Court Document: Motions to dismiss filed by Walnut Creek
The courts favor locals vs. ATT with regard to project Light speed
http://www.localgovnews.org/innovation/walnutcreek.pdf

California Court Rules Against AT&T
Cities are within their rights to demand a franchise of AT&T Inc. for its
video service, according to a ruling from a judge in U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of California
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6324981.html?
display=Breaking+News

File-Sharing to Get Restrictions
Fearing that state computer systems will be jeopardized, Texas state
technology officials are planning to restrict the use of peer-to-peer file-
sharing applications - software such as Napster, Kazaa and Grokster that
allows Internet users to download and share files - among state
agencies, departments, boards and commissions
http://www.fcw.com/article94067-04-13-06-Web&newsletter%3Dyes

New Telecomm Bill a Questionable Deal for Local Communities
Local government officials remain concerned that rhetoric has led
Congress to believe that competition and innovation will flourish in the
telecommunications industry only if local government is removed from the
equation
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?
Section=Publications&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.
cfm&ContentID=19701

Telecom in the News - AT&T Project Lightspeed
http://www.cacities.org/index.jsp?zone=locc&previewStory=24675

Concerns over draft telecommunications legislation
The National League of Cities has identified several provisions in
proposed draft telecommunications legislation that are of serious
concernhttp://www.nlc.
org/Newsroom/Nation_s_Cities_Weekly/Weekly_NCW/2006/04/03/9290.
cfm

Municipal Fiber Projects
White Paper on Municipal Fiber Projects discusses the experiences of
various municipalities across the country that have developed their own
fiber projects to provide advanced telecom capabilities to their local
residents and businesses
http://www.baller.com/pdfs/BHLG_White_Paper_Tenn_3-4-06.pdf

Why Municipal Wi-Fi May Be a Bad Investment for Cities
http://www.govtech.net/localgovt/story.php?id=99018

Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers for 2005 by Government
Technology Magazine
http://www.govtech.net/magazine/story.php?id=98589

San Francisco picks Google, EarthLink for Wi-Fi
Google Inc.'s bid to blanket San Francisco with a free wireless Internet
service cleared a major hurdle when a city panel identified the search
leader and EarthLink Inc. as the best candidates for the ambitious project
http://tinyurl.com/rautc

Tech-savvy parking meters
The Houston, Texas City Council approved a $15M contract to install
1,500 new tech-savvy parking meters that will allow motorists to pay
using cell phones, credit cards and dollar bills, in addition to the
traditional coins
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3774821.html

Net for tracking diseases
North Carolina puts out a net for tracking diseases; System relies on
formats that were developed by CDC to transmit, track statewide data
http://www.gcn.com/print/25_7/40291-1.html

Virginia cable law to speed TV through phone lines
http://americancityandcounty.com/news/virginia_cable_phone

Locals need more money and communication to defend against
cyberterrorism
http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_virtual_enemy/

IACP Excellence in Technology Award
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) selected the
District of Columbia’s municipal wireless broadband public safety
network as the winner of the IACP Excellence in Technology Award
http://www.ig.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=973