Author Archive
Chris Teale
People
Former FEMA administrator reflects on tumultuous time for ‘people-first’ agency
Deanne Criswell, who led the agency under former President Joe Biden, said critics who want to shift responsibility to states and localities use a “lazy way” to characterize its mission.
Digital Government
Maryland’s data lead reflects on ongoing ‘culture shift’
Natalie Evans Harris, the state’s chief data officer, said that, while sharing data can be difficult, centralizing it where possible can help agencies work together and make more holistic decisions.
Digital Government
New ‘quirks’ could make states’ privacy laws impossible to follow, experts worry
Speakers during a recent webinar repeated their calls for Congress to pass a national standard, and warned that new approaches in several states could complicate matters further.
Digital Government
City leaders predict ‘real bad trouble’ if FirstNet isn’t reauthorized
The reauthorization push ahead of the February deadline arrived at a National League of Cities conference this week as the effort moves through Congress.
Digital Government
Governments’ website accessibility deadline is fast approaching
It’s still unclear how the federal government will enforce the rule for larger jurisdictions under the Americans with Disabilities Act, while small jurisdictions have another year to comply.
Cybersecurity
New Texas Cyber Command looks to ‘bind the state together’
The command went live in September, and must build an information-sharing and analysis center, a threat intelligence center, a digital forensics lab and an incident response unit.
Cybersecurity
Experts warn of coming ‘reprioritization’ for cyber funding
A popular federal grant program looks unlikely to be replenished, they said, so states must start thinking differently about how they want to fund their cybersecurity efforts.
Cybersecurity
Feds pledge beefed up information-sharing amid new cyber strategy
Administration officials also promised a stronger focus on protecting critical infrastructure and bolstering the cyber workforce during a series of talks at a summit this week.
Digital Government
Tennessee uses ‘one stop shop’ portal for benefits programs
The Volunteer State has moved away from a “fragmented” system to a more streamlined customer experience and used AI to help consolidate its call centers and make them more efficient.
Artificial Intelligence
Raleigh embraces AI to meet residents’ expectations
The city’s CIO Mark Wittenburg said during the ServiceNow Government Forum that it’s young and innovative population expects great things, and government must deliver.
Digital Government
‘Unmet needs’ persist in Tribal broadband despite progress, report finds
The $3 billion set aside for Tribal connectivity is unprecedented, the Urban Institute found, but communities face familiar challenges if they are to truly take advantage.
Featured eBooks
Cybersecurity
Iran-linked hacktivists could target governments, experts warn
State and local governments and some crucial technology infrastructure are among the key retaliatory targets as hostilities escalate in the Middle East.
Artificial Intelligence
AI risks creating a ‘demand machine’ for governments, report warns
Instead of making public-sector employees’ lives easier, the tech could create even more work, unless leaders rethink agency processes and workflows, researchers at New America said.
Artificial Intelligence
AI could be ‘force multiplier’ in tackling housing crisis, expert says
Cities across the country are using the technology to ease permitting approvals and backlogs, and one leader called on them to lean in further and set ambitious but achievable goals.
Cybersecurity
Leaders sound the alarm for physical and cyber attacks ahead of summer World Cup
A lack of federal grant funding and information sharing could hamper preparations, they said, and leave cities vulnerable to physical or cyberattacks when games get underway.
Artificial Intelligence
New York counties to roll out AI assessment tool
The new dashboard will help county tech and procurement leaders analyze and evaluate various products available on the market as they try to adopt them responsibly.
Artificial Intelligence
Localities bemoan apparent ‘race to the bottom’ on data centers
Attendees at the National Association of Counties said tech companies are not being good partners, but research and recent deals suggest a new way of doing business for local governments.
Cybersecurity
‘It’s not over’: Cyber info-sharing center begins ‘next chapters’ after losing federal funding
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center now has 24 states and 3,000 individual organizations as dues-paying members after losing federal funding, a leader said.
Digital Government
FCC could tighten federal Lifeline program rules
The agency is advancing new eligibility requirements in the face of what it says is massive fraud across several states in the $1 billion-a-year internet and phone low-income assistance program.
Digital Government
Feds want to stop states regulating, blocking prediction markets
The online marketplaces have exploded in popularity, but while state leaders say they are like sports betting, regulators argue they are instead subject to federal oversight and threatened legal action.
