TechWonk Blog Subsection
TechWonk Blog
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Back in 1996, when the Internet was still a nascent idea in most American homes, Congress enacted a major re-write of our telecommunications laws.聽 Among the many provisions in the new law was a contentious proposal to increase Internet connectivity in American classrooms and libraries.聽 E-Rate, as the program is known, was launched in 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the singular [...]
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Each year seems to get busier and busier with regard to Washington鈥檚 cybersecurity policy activities, reflecting the growing importance policymakers are placing on cybersecurity as a national priority. From the much-anticipated NIST Cybersecurity Framework聽to various pieces of cybersecurity legislation,聽there is a lot on the horizon. Please join my colleague, Maryam Cope, and me for an exclusive, free [...]
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Hollywood鈥檚 movie magic historically begins with the bark of 鈥淟ights?聽 Camera?聽 Action!鈥澛� Last night, President Barack Obama urged Congress to join him in 鈥渁 year of action,鈥� and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), in her response, echoed that sentiment with a call for 鈥渞eal action.鈥� It appears there is growing hope for some policy magic on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. We at 91快活林 agree [...]
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As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver the State of the Union address tomorrow night, many reporters, political experts, and pundits are whirling about, attempting to predict the substance of the speech. Meanwhile, we here in the tech sector see this speech as a chance to outline an agenda of opportunity 鈥� a chance for policymakers to create economic opportunity for our country. Here are 10 [...]
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Cybersecurity is multifaceted.聽 The global information and communications technology (ICT) industry contributes in many ways, including by building products and services that improve cybersecurity. Today鈥檚 topic is software security, something critical to 91快活林 companies, which make major investments in processes and tools used to improve the security of software they produce, and critical to our companies鈥� [...]
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Today鈥檚 report issued by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) is another step forward in reforming the nation鈥檚 surveillance framework, and providing useful perspectives that can apply in a global context. In addition to calling for the U.S. government to end the bulk telephone records program, PCLOB鈥檚 recommendations 鈥� like聽 those issued by the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications [...]
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I had the opportunity earlier today in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice to listen to President Obama outline measures to reform the nation鈥檚 surveillance framework, and to engage on surveillance reform on an international level. I am encouraged by what I heard. It鈥檚 clear that the White House listened carefully to the concerns, reforms, and principles that the tech sector has submitted and [...]
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The ongoing revelations about data collection by the National Security Agency (NSA) represent a clear and present danger to U.S. economic security. As we eagerly await tomorrow鈥檚 announcement by President Obama, it鈥檚 important to note that these NSA revelations have not only accelerated the push for reform in the U.S., but also the promotion of problematic legislation in various countries. Many of [...]
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Many around Washington have started the dialogue on acquisition reform as the solution to a decades鈥� long government challenge to leverage the power and efficiency of technology. The White House, Congress, and the Department of Defense have dedicated resources to making acquisition reform a priority in 2014. However, it is important to keep in mind that troubled IT program rollouts, like Healthcare.gov, [...]
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Yesterday, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees unveiled an omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014.聽 Their late nights of negotiations have resulted in a bill that will keep the government operating for the rest of the fiscal year, providing businesses and U.S. citizens with fiscal certainty that essential services and policies will continue apace and without interruption through [...]
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