Industry Notes

Government • Technology • Utilities

In Government …

Agency attitude affects modernization efforts’ success

To advance modernization in federal departments, the officials leading the effort must be the “tick on the tail of the dog” until agency leaders take it seriously, according to a panel of government officials who spoke today in Bethesda, MD. Four panelists at an AFCEA International breakfast agreed that modernization must be recognized and supported by departmentsÕ’ executives. The chief information officer in particular must be involved in the effort, the panelists agreed. “CIOs do need a seat at the table,” said Edward Meagher, the Veterans Affairs Department’s chief technology officer. CIOs must also be recognized as equal to the other agency executive officers, he added. Until that happens, he said they must continue to “annoy” the officers. Details Here: www.fcw.com/article92110-01-26-06-Web&RSS=yes

Nevada Court Rules google Cache is Fair Use

A federal district court in Nevada has ruled that Google does not violate copyright law when it copies websites, stores the copies, and transmits them to Internet users as part of its Google Cache feature. The ruling clarifies the legal status of several common search engine practices and could influence future court cases, including the lawsuits brought by book publishers against the Google Library Project. Details Here: www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=98086

States to make digital maps for mines.

The Labor Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration awarded almost $4 million in grants to 13 states to help pay for systems to digitize maps of abandoned mines. Most maps are in paper form, scattered among offices managed by mining companies and agencies at the federal, state and local levels. Officials said they also have to separate good data from maps with questionable accuracy. Funding will allow states to digitize and provide electronic data to mine operators about the location of underground mines..Details Here: www.fcw.com/article81786-01-11-04-Print

In Technology …

CERT Says Oracle Products Contain Multiple Vulnerabilities

The impacts of these vulnerabilities include remote execution of arbitrary code, information disclosure, and denial of service. Oracle released Critical Patch Update - January 2006. This update addresses more than eighty vulnerabilities in different Oracle products and components. The Critical Patch Update provides information about affected components, access and authorization required, and the impact of the vulnerabilities on data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Details Here: www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA06-018A.html

Encryption Using Chaos

Researchers are looking at ways to exploit lasers with chaotically fluctuating signals, to add an extra layer of privacy to messages sent over fiber-optic lines. By slipping a message into such a laser beam, decrypting the message requires a nearly identical laser to receive it – a process that’s not readily accessible to most people. To demonstrate the feasibility of the technology, Claudio Mirasso of the Universitat de les Illes Balears in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and his team recently showed that chaotic lasers can send and receive a message over 120 kilometers of commercially laid fiber optics. Even more impressive: the transmission rate was one gigabyte of chaos–encrypted information per second – comparable to that of most commercial data transmissions. It was a major step that, for the first time, put this exotic encryption technique into the real world. Details Here: www.techreview.com/InfoTech/wtr_16178,300,p1.html

U.K. banks off the hook for Indian data breach.

British banks will not face any action over an alleged data breach in an Indian call center last year, the U.K.’s data protection watchdog has said. In the breach an undercover newspaper reporter was allegedly able to buy the bank account, credit card, passport and driving license details of 1,000 British bank customers for just 4.25 pounds ($7.50) each from a New Delhi call center worker who was said to have promised to supply confidential data from 200,000 accounts per month. The Information Commissioner, the U.K.’s data protection agency, warned at the time that the banks could face prosecution for a criminal breach of the country’s Data Protection Act. Details Here: news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6027073.html

West Virginia miners to get electronic tracking devices

West Virginia lawmakers unanimously passed legislation Jan. 23 requiring miners to wear electronic tracking devices and carry wireless emergency communications equipment when working underground. Under the legislation, miners, who will receive training on the communications equipment and refresher courses each year, should be able to receive communications at any location throughout the mine from the surface. During accidents or other emergencies, tracking devices would provide real-time monitoring and physical location of miners underground.Details Here: www.fcw.com/article92067-01-24-06-Web&RSS=yes

Current Electricity Sector Threat Alert Levels

In Utilities …

Florida seeks ways to protect electrical system from hurricanes

The horrific electrical outages from Hurricane Wilma took center stage Monday, January 23, as state regulators discussed how to harden the power system to withstand more frequent hurricanes. The Florida Public Service Commission made clear that it expected quick decisions on many of the proposals so that the necessary bills can be drafted in time for the spring session of the state Legislature. Among the ideas: Make it easier for cities to put lines underground; change laws to make it easier for power companies to trim trees; install stronger poles; install more poles; and protect substations against flying debris. Details Here: mobile.sun-sentinel.com

Portland, Oregon could require PGE to cut rates

The city finds an obscure state law that would let it override the PUC, but other cities probably would object. Portland commissioners say they’re dead serious about invoking a never-used 75–year-old law to force Portland General Electric to lower customer bills if a city–led investigation substantiates suspicions of inflated rates under Enron’s ownership. “I want to make sure the rates are fair, explainable and reasonable – and right now, they’re not,” said city Commissioner Randy Leonard, one of PGE’s most vocal critics. Details Here: www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1137826521222040.xml&coll=7

progress Energy Weighs Site for Nuke Plant

Shearon Harris site

Progress Energy Inc. said it is considering building a new nuclear reactor at its existing plant near Raleigh, in what could become one of the nation’s first orders for a nuclear power reactor in more than thirty years. Progress Energy serves 1.4 million customers in the Carolinas. The company said it could be years before a final decision is made. Robert McGehee, Progress Energy's chief executive officer, said in April that the Shearon Harris site – about 20 miles from Raleigh (see photo) – would be the most logical choice for expansion. There hasn’t been an order for a new nuclear power plant since 1973 … Details Here: www.news14charlotte.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=111713