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New Auditor Report Blasts California Technology Department – Again
The latest assessment of California’s primary tech agency by the state auditor has identified severe weaknesses in Strategic Planning, Information Security, and Project Oversight that limit the state’s management of its multi-billion dollar IT portfolio.
Recent News
  1. New Partnership Helps Cal State, Fullerton to Close Digital Divide
    As part of its efforts to close the digital divide on its campus, California State University, Fullerton (Cal State, Fullerton) is partnering with Excess Telecom to bring affordable broadband and discounted tablet rentals to the university’s students.
  2. In Vermont and Georgia, Whole-of-State Cyber Requires Communication
    The panel discussion entitled “Evolving Cybersecurity for Evolving Threats” featured New Hampshire Chief Information Officer Denis Goulet, and Steve Hodges, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with the Georgia Technology Authority. The panel also included Maria S. Thompson, State and Local Government Executive Government Advisor – Cybersecurity at Amazon Web Services, and Matt Singleton, Executive Strategist at CrowdStrike.
  3. National Association of Counties Launches Exploratory AI Committee
    The National Association of Counties (NACo) has formed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Exploratory Committee. The committee will examine emerging policies, practices, and potential applications and consequences of AI.
  1. New Initiative Looks to Expand Broadband Access in Rhode Island
    A new initiative from Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is looking to increase awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that aims to help lower-income families pay for high-speed internet.
  2. ransomware Multiple Gov Agencies Release New Updates to Ransomware Guide
    As ransomware continues to be a severe issue that is plaguing many across the cybersecurity landscape, a new update has just been released through the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) to address these growing threats.
  3. FCC FCC Chair to Re-Charter Communications Equity and Diversity Council
    Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the FCC will re-charter the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC) for another two-year term.
  4. Schenectady County, N.Y., Transitions to .Gov Website Domain
    In a move to strengthen cybersecurity and citizen trust, Schenectady County, N.Y., has transitioned its official website, as well as email addresses, to a .gov domain. Only qualified U.S.-based government agencies can use .gov domains, which require stricter security controls.
  1. New Study Finds Students Increasingly Replacing Human Tutors With ChatGPT
    A new study found that students have increasingly chosen to study with ChatGPT instead of a human tutor, many citing that the AI tool was a more effective studying tool than a tutor.
  2. Baltimore Mayor Launches Campaign to Expand In-Home Broadband Access
    Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced the launch of the Bmore Connected campaign intended to expand in-home broadband access across the city. The new campaign will be spearheaded by the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology's (BCIT) Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE).
  3. Maine Schools Using Teletherapy to Expand Access to Mental Health Services
    A school district in Washington County, Maine, in partnership with MCD Global Health (MCD), has rolled out a new behavioral health teletherapy program.
  4. FCC Sets $12M in ECF Funding for Schools and Libraries
    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investing more than $12 million in a new round of funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program, which provides digital services for students across the country.
  5. Utah Lacks Cyber Planning, Training Across State Entities
    A new report by Utah’s Office of the Legislative Auditor General found that cybersecurity planning and training is lacking across multiple branches of the state government.
  6. Improved FCC Broadband Map Coming in June, NTIA Chief Says
    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will release an updated Broadband Funding Map in June to improve existing inaccuracies, according to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator Alan Davidson.
  7. Treasury Approves ARP Funds for Delaware, Idaho Broadband Efforts
    The U.S. Department of Treasury has approved Federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects in Delaware and Idaho. The funds come from the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF), part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda.
  8. Ed Dept. Releases First Ever Federal Report on AI in Education
    The Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology (OET) this week released a new report that summarizes the opportunities and risks for AI in teaching, learning, research, and assessment based on public input.
  9. Local Governments Universally Cite Cybersecurity as Priority
    Ninety-seven percent of local government IT executives listed cybersecurity as a key priority for the current fiscal year (FY), according to the tenth annual State of City and County IT National Survey administered by CompTIA’s Public Technology Institute (PTI).
  10. Montana Becomes First State to Ban TikTok
    Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill last week banning TikTok in the state, making the Treasure State officially the first in the nation to ban the popular social media app.