Friday Afternoon Federal Newscast

The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board met the legislative deadline to publicly post all contracts and grants issued by the government using stimulus money. The RAT Board today made public 121,000 reports covering almost all grants to prime and sub-recipients, such as states, non-profits and universities, according to the blog post by Ed Devaney, the board's chairman. The board earlier this month posted all contract award data, but that only accounted for about seven percent of all the information. The site also offers a host of new features including state and local search capabilities and new formats to download the data. Check out more at www.recovery.gov.

Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski says the Commerce Department and Federal Communications Commission are taking too long to respond to her request for a cell phone jamming technology demonstration at a Maryland prison. Mikulski and Maryland Governor Martin OMalley asked for a demonstration back in June. They want to see the technology that could be used to keep inmates from using cell phones to commit crimes from behind bars. Currently, the FCC does not allow cell phone jamming of any kind. Though, a bill that passed the Senate earlier this month and awaits action by the House would allow states to petition the FCC to block the use of cell phones from prisons. (AP Wire)

The Department of Homeland Security has just opened its new National CyberSecurity and Communications Integration Center in Arlington, Virginia. The 24-hour coordinated watch-and-warning center is designed to address any threats to the nation's critical cyber-infrastructure. The new center combines DHS' Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications.

Other News Links

7 on defense panel scrutinized (Washington Post)

Federal Protective Service moves out of immigration bureau (GovExec)

Committee approves DHS nominee, despite Republican opposition (Federal Times)

GAO faults effort to counter roadside bombs (Congress Daily/GovExec)

DHS to open new cybersecurity center (FCW)