Taking Another Look at the Critical Infrastructure Debate
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
On September 12, one day after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, although most hearings were cancelled, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee convened a hearing on America's critical information infrastructure. The hearing was originally scheduled to examine the security of the critical cyber-infrastructure and to allow the Committee to hear the challenges that remain in government's efforts to secure the critical information infrastructure, which includes telecommunications and transportation, under Presidential Decision Directive 63. The Directive, signed by President Clinton in May 1998, requires agencies to protect both the cyber and physical infrastructure, and much of the attention has been on the protection of information systems.
read in fullCritical Infrastructure Information Sign-on Letter
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Click here to view a sign-on letter that public interest organizations sent to Senators urging them to oppose attaching S. 1456, the “Critical Infrastructure Information Act," (introduced by Senators Bennett and Kyl) as an amendment to the the bi-partisan bioterrorism bill introduced by Senators Kennedy and Frist or to any other piece of legislation that might move through the Congress in the final days of the session.
read in fullIndustry Letter Supporting H.R. 2435 (Davis-Moran) and S. 1456 (Bennett-Kyl)
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Link here for an industry letter to President Bush in support of two bill addressing cyber security issues H.R. 2435 (Davis-Moran) and S. 1456 (Bennett-Kyl).
read in fullClosing the Digital Divide: Community Technology Centers
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Although the number of Americans who have access to computers and the Internet has increased greatly in the last year, the "digital divide" between information and communication "haves" and "have-nots" is still growing. The barriers to information and technology access remain high for rural communities.
Regardless of income level, Americans living in rural areas are lagging behind in Internet access.
read in fullCommunity Technology Centers: Bridging the Digital Divide of Race and Income
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Although the number of Americans who have access to computers and the Internet has increased greatly in the last year, the "digital divide" between information and communication "haves" and "have-nots" is still growing. Hispanics for example, have witnessed growth rates for computer access of 68% (compared to 43% for the U.S. population as a whole), and 42% of Hispanic households are reported to have computers1.
read in fullCritical Infrastructure Information -- What's the Problem?
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
According to government officials in both the executive and legislative branches, there is a growing concern among businesses that information businesses want to be able to share with government about vulnerabilities in the nation's critical infrastructure will not be held confidential by the government once it is in the government's hands.
read in fullClosing the Digital Divide: Community Technology Centers
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Although the number of Americans who have access to computers and the Internet has increased greatly in the last year, the "digital divide" between information and communication "haves" and "have-nots" is still growing.
read in fullAnalysis of Cyber Security Information Act
Feb 26, 2002 by Guest Blogger
HR 4246, the "Cyber Security Information Act" is the first volley coming from a push by industry over the last year or two to carve out an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act. The bill reflects the concerns of industry to protect information about vulnerabilities from those who would use or exploit that information.
read in fullHearing Cancelled on "Leaks" Criminalization Provision of Intelligence Authorization Act
Feb 22, 2002 by Guest Blogger
In the early evening of September 4th, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Robert Graham announced cancellation of the hearing on a provision planned for inclusion in the 2002 Intelligence Authorization Act that would have made a felony of any unauthorized disclosure of any classified information by any current or former federal employee.
read in fullAttack on Risk Management Plans
Feb 22, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act requires the creation of Risk Management Plans to address prevention of chemical accidents. In particular, chemical facilities must identify and assess their chemical hazards and carry out certain activities designed to reduce the likelihood and severity of chemical releases. The law requires this information to be available to the public. According to EPA, “Using this information citizens will have the opportunity to work with industry to reduce risks to the community from chemical accidents.”
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