State Local


Georgia to test smart-phone video conferencing

The state's health department is planning to use a cloud-based product that will allow it to create between four- and nine-way meetings.

Fla. city takes secure path to Google cloud

Panama City officials add an extra layer of security to lock down Google Docs, giving it control of document publishing and archiving.

Calif. targets cell-phone crimes from prisons

The state wants to block unauthorized cellular transmissions and increase the penalties for smuggling phones inside prison, which is so easy even Charles Manson can get one.

Virginia puts traffic accident data online

A new interactive database of traffic accident data in Virginia will give residents, researchers and public safety advocates a better idea of conditions on the commonwealth's roads.

Site with Ohio state workers' salaries overwhelmed by searches

The database lists salaries for 2011 for all state employees.

As federal bills stall, California beefs up its data breach law

The state strengthens its breach notification requirements, as federal legislation that would replace state laws goes nowhere in Congress.

How a decency law protects online prostitution ads

A group for state attorney generals is appealing to a Craigslist-like publisher to stop hiding behind a 1996 law that allows the site to post what amounts to personal ads for prostitutes.

Carolinians let their fingers do the walking

A Web-based system lets people record their legal documents online, saving about $174,000 a year.

Groups ask FCC to stop local officials from disrupting mobile service

As part of the fallout from BART officials' efforts to quell a protest in San Francisco, several groups have petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to forbid intentional disruptions of mobile service.

Bandwidth aggregation is no silver bullet for emergency communications

Link aggregation can stretch budgets and improve performance, but it is not a panacea.

VOIP 911: A low-cost way to expand emergency comm

Arizona's Maricopa regional 911 system is using virtual wide-area network technology to help manage the transition to full wireless and Internet-routed emergency voice communications.

FBI mobile fingerprint system puts criminals at RISC

Police officers nationwide will soon have access to the FBI's new fingerprint system that allows them to see if someone is a nationally known "worst" offender using mobile devices.

311 app streamlines service requests in Salt Lake City

The process for submitting service requests for such things as pothole repairs has gotten a lot more streamlined in Salt Lake City thanks to a new citizen reporting app.

Dubuque, IBM study ways to reduce energy use

The Smarter Energy Cloud gives residents access to information about their energy use and shares best practices through an electricity portal.

RIM to offer PlayBook as control center for police cruisers

Using Mobile Police Assist software, the tablets can access databases, connect with other devices and even be used to operate such things as a cruiser's lights and siren.