State and Local Security
D.C. Council Decides To Block City Surveillance Project
May 15, 2008
Privacy advocates are applauding the recent decision by a key committee of the District of Columbia Council to eliminate nearly $900,000 in proposed funding for consolidating the operations of 5,200 city surveillance cameras....
The Power of Fusion
By Michael Fickes
More than a year before 9/11, intelligence collected by the National Security Agency (NSA) could have identified one of the hijackers, but NSA didn't...
Reliable Networking
By Umberto Malesci
Wireless mesh a network architecture for video surveillance systems that uses wireless transmitters provides more reliability and flexibility compared...
Threat Condition ORANGE
By Roger L. Kemp
In order to improve coordination and communication among all levels of government and the public in the fight against terrorism, the President signed...
Help On The Line
By Ashley Roe
On Aug. 1, 2007, at 6:05 p.m., hordes of Minneapolis motorists traveling over the 1,907-ft. I-35W bridge found themselves in a living nightmare as the...
One Unread Message
By Stephanie Silk
In a world of evolving technology at every corner, it's no wonder that questions arise as to how these technologies can improve not only convenience but...
Deadline Looms
Jan 1, 2008
The final rule for REAL ID compliance provides the necessary guidance for states to begin building systems and linking networks to fulfill the mandates...
New Level of Control
Jan 1, 2008
Beaumont, Calif., city officials are no longer looking over their shoulders. Keeping track of people is second nature to police officers, so when the...
Aviation Security Progress Report
By Michael Fickes
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted two studies of the nation's aviation security system during 2007. Both evaluated progress made by...
Alabama Gets Virtual
Dec 1, 2007
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama Department of Homeland Security have unveiled the Virtual Alabama software program, a limited-access Web site that...
Securing So Cal
By Stephanie Silk
As current events repeatedly highlight laptop loss and theft such as the 2006 theft of laptops containing the Social Security numbers of millions of U.S....
Eyes All Around
By Terry Denison and Tony Sivore
On completion of a multi-million dollar sports complex, the Town of Parker, Colo., needed to do something to ensure that the recreation center offered...
A Canopy of Connectivity
By Ashley Roe
At the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), one of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) 10 national laboratories, 4,200 staff members conduct...
PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: A Shared Responsibility
Dec 1, 2007
One of the key issues confronting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Defense (DoD), state, local and tribal governments and...
Detecting Voter Fraud
By Yuri Prizemin
Election fraud robs Americans of their voice in government and impacts political results across the nation, making it a significant concern for federal,...
Building Security With Community Relations
By Bill Farrar
In March 2007, America's Most Wanted featured a story about the murder of a 44-year-old businessman and former military officer in San Diego. The suspect,...
Search And Rescue
Aug 1, 2007
The intrusion of unauthorized personnel into a search-and-rescue operation can steal precious minutes and take the eyes of rescuers off the main goal...
Restoring Video Evidence
Aug 1, 2007
When crimes being committed are caught on video, often, the image is fuzzy, grainy, damaged, poorly exposed and shaky, making it difficult to identify...
Automating Cooperation
By Michael Fickes
When Hurricane Katrina knocked out electrical power across the Gulf region, telecommunications companies used gas generators to power telephone switches...
Under Close Watch
Aug 1, 2007
In 2004, after observing a closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance project in the city of Westminster in London and a small citizen-led video surveillance...
In the Public Eye
By Randy Southerland
It may just be one of the biggest trends in security. Amidst terrorist bombings and rising crime, the camera is moving out of the warehouse and office...
SIA Gears Up For Government Summit
May 17, 2007
This year's Security Industry Association (SIA) Government Summit, which takes place on June 11-13 at the Hilton Embassy Row hotel in Washington, D.C., is designed to keep participants up-to-date on policies driving federal procurement decisions and to create a strong, unified industry voice on Capitol Hill. At the Summit, industry leaders and government end-users will hear from the nation's leading policy experts on issues impacting the GSA Schedules Program, TWIC implementation, "earmarking" federal funds for physical security projects, and the SAFETY Act designation process. ...
DHS Announces Millions Available to Nonprofit Organizations
May 17, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, D.C., hsa announced that nonprofit organizations in 46 designated areas are eligible to apply for funds as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This program will provide more than $24 million to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that are deemed high-risk for a potential international terrorist attack.
Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations through their eligible State Administrative Agency (SAA)....
Smart Card Alliance Wary Of Enhanced Driver's Licenses
May 3, 2007
The privacy and security of U.S. citizens would take a back seat to convenience if border states follow the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommendations to pilot long-range, vicinity-read RFID-based state driver's licenses that would double as border crossing cards, according to a statement released by the Smart Card Alliance.
The Alliance recommends that states working on enhanced driver's license pilot programs with DHS retain their right to contribute to the technology specification and consider using more secure contactless smart card technology. This is the same technology used in new, government issued e-passports. It would help states to achieve a fast and secure means for citizens to cross U.S. land and sea borders under the new Western Hemisphere Traveler Initiative (WHTI) guidelines....
DHS Awards Grants, Provides Technology To Emergency Responders
Apr 6, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded two multi-million-dollar grants to state emergency response agencies and emergency workers, in addition to creating a program aimed at delivering the latest technology solutions to first responders.
States and local governments will receive $194 million to help prepare and implement emergency management activities through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program.
State emergency management agencies use EMPG funds to enhance their emergency management capabilities in areas of planning, equipping, training, conducting exercises and providing for all-hazards emergency management operations. In addition, the funds are used to pay for personnel who write plans, conduct training and exercise programs, maintain emergency response programs and educate the public on disaster readiness....
