government

News

• FCC ruling on 800MHz band a boon for Sprint

  By Stephen Lawson | 25 May, 2012 19:53

  The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved a rule change for part of the 800MHz band at a meeting on Thursday, opening the door for Sprint Nextel to use the band for its 4G LTE network.

• Lawmakers call on DOJ to reopen investigation into Google Wi-Fi spying

  By Grant Gross | 24 May, 2012 23:37

  Two U.S. lawmakers have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen its investigation into Google's snooping on Wi-Fi networks in 2010 after recent questions about the company's level of cooperation with federal inquiries.

• Lawmakers call on DOJ to reopen investigation into Google Wi-Fi spying

  By Grant Gross | 24 May, 2012 20:53

  Two U.S. lawmakers have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen its investigation into Google's snooping on Wi-Fi networks in 2010 after recent questions about the company's level of cooperation with federal inquiries.

• GAO: US gov't IT reform slower than claimed

  By Grant Gross | 24 May, 2012 18:42

  The efforts of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration to streamline and improve the government's IT systems aren't proceeding as quickly as officials have suggested, a federal auditor said Thursday.

• Google to offer mapping and other software in Syria

  By John Ribeiro | 24 May, 2012 07:46

  Google is now allowed under U.S. export control rules to offer downloads in Syria of its mapping software Google Earth, photo sharing software Picasa, and its Chrome browser, it said Wednesday.

• Obama orders agencies to optimize Web content for mobile

  By Grant Gross | 23 May, 2012 20:06

  U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered all major government agencies to make two key services available on mobile phones within a year, in an effort to embrace a growing trend toward Web surfing on mobile devices.

• Obama orders agencies to optimize Web content for mobile

  By Grant Gross | 23 May, 2012 17:58

  U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered all major government agencies to make two key services available on mobile phones within a year, in an effort to embrace a growing trend toward Web surfing on mobile devices.

• Study: Patriot Act gives US government no special acess to cloud data

  By Grant Gross | 23 May, 2012 16:02

  An often-repeated concern that the U.S. Patriot Act gives the U.S. government unequaled access to personal data stored on cloud services is incorrect, with several other nations enjoying similar access to cloud data, according to a study released Wednesday.

• VoIP provider files net neutrality complaint with FCC

  By Grant Gross | 23 May, 2012 04:16

  A Florida VoIP carrier has filed a net neutrality complaint against a Georgia utility and broadband provider, after the utility accused the VoIP firm of theft of service for using its network to deliver voice service without paying for it.

• NASA on 'brink of a new future' with SpaceX launch

  By Sharon Gaudin | 23 May, 2012 03:33

  The nation's space efforts entered a new chapter today with the launch of the first commercial vehicle to the International Space Station.

• Education group: Schools need 100 Mbps per 1,000 broadband users

  By Grant Gross | 22 May, 2012 07:23

  Schools in the U.S. will need broadband speeds of 100 Mbps per 1,000 students and staff members by the 2014-15 school year in order to meet a growing demand for Web-based instruction and a skyrocketing number of student-owned Web devices, according to a new report by a trade group representing state education agencies.

• FTC appoints privacy advocate as adviser

  By Grant Gross | 22 May, 2012 05:44

  The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has hired Paul Ohm, a privacy advocate and critic of current online privacy practices, as a senior privacy adviser for consumer protection and competition issues affecting the Internet and mobile services.

• Security: Prepared for the EU's new data protection regulation?

  By Thor Olavsrud | 22 May, 2012 05:52

  Big changes are coming to data protection laws in the European Union. Are you ready?

• Cloud computing: You can't outsource your compliance obligations

  By Thomas J. Trappler | 22 May, 2012 02:27

  When it comes to moving functions to the cloud, there's no such thing as being too thorough.

• EU offers Google a chance to avoid fines over four antitrust concerns

  By Loek Essers | 21 May, 2012 22:26

  Google has "a matter of weeks" to address four antitrust issues identified by European Union antitrust regulators. If Google addresses these issues the case can be solved by a so-called "commitment decision" instead of formal antitrust proceedings resulting in a fine, said Joaquín Almunia, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Competition Policy.