This morning we kicked off day two of the TechVoice D.C. Fly-In with a Tech Summit that included exceptional panel members from the private sector and federal government diving into IT workforce, Internet governance and other important issues for the tech entrepreneur.

Ernest McDuffe, lead of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, started the morning with discussion of an initiative called NICE, which defines a framework to improve online behavior skills to enable a safer cyberspace. There was a lot of discussion about who the “cyber warrior” is, who is in charge of what and where funds would come from to support cyber-security. Erik Jones, deputy general counsel at the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, encouraged our member companies and information technology small- and medium-sized businesses to partner with the federal government and collaborate on effective cyber-security policies. He said that while the process has begun with a recent executive order on cyber-security signed by President Obama, we still have a long way to go.

The panelists also discussed improving the cyber-security workforce, agreeing we need a well-trained one. One of the panelists said that to fix the shortage of STEM-skilled workers, we need to start encouraging students in middle school. He said this can be done with scholarships, competitions and parental support. He stated that there is still a hangover from the tech bubble burst years back, with a significant drop in students enrolled in STEM coursework, and that today we’re still short.

Another panelist said that while there is a shortage of skills, there is not a shortage of jobs but rather a shortage of experience. Not only is there not a developmental pipeline for STEM, but many organizations don’t want to hire junior people.

On a second panel discussing “IT Innovation on the First Responder Platform,” we heard from Jeff Cohen, chief counsel for law and policy with APCO International, who painted a picture of the rudimentary public safety communications landscape of the nation’s first responders. He said that public safety today relies on land mobile radio signals that do not provide first responders with the much needed data that smart phones provide, like maps, real time video, medical records, traffic alerts, etc. Not only are land mobile radio signals antiquated, but they’re expensive – a two-way radio can cost $3,000 to $4,000, depending on the features.

Cohen discussed the importance of having a mandate dedicated to providing a national broadband network to deliver more up-to-date communications tools. He also touched on the policy initiatives in place to promote a national safety broadband network, including FirstNet, a congressional mandate for a broadband wireless network. He encouraged private companies to partner with their government to make this happen.

We also heard from Ashok Agrawala, professor of computer science at the University of Maryland and director of the Maryland Information and Network Dynamics (MIND) Lab, who showed the audience where public safety technology is going with a demonstration of M-Urgency, a first responder app created for students on the College Park Campus.

Another panel member talked about opportunities for information technology small- and medium-sized businesses to get involved in public safety communications and the need for solid technology tools so that first responders can do their critical jobs. He also encouraged anyone interested to get involved at the state level since every state has its own safety needs.

Our last panel of the day was about “Startup 3.0” legislation allowing small- and medium-sized businesses to grow and prosper. The timing of the panel couldn’t have been more perfect, considering that the House of Representatives version of Startup 3.0 will be introduced this week and the Senate version was introduced yesterday. We learned about two new visa provisions of the bill. The first is intended to benefit STEM students pursuing advanced degrees with the addition of 50,000 new visas and the second is intended to benefit entrepreneurs who create businesses and new jobs with the addition of 75,000 new visas. These provisions would create 26 million new jobs in the U.S.

We also learned that Startup 3.0 offers a new R&D credit that is more accessible to startups. The credit would be offered against employment taxes instead of income taxes. Panelists urged co-sponsor support, so please write and/or call your local representative or go to TechVoice.org and click on the Action Alert button to seamlessly contact your state’s representative. For details on the names and titles of the speakers we heard from this morning, check out our TechVoice website.

It was a great few days in D.C.! Please check out twitter chatter on today’s panel at @TechVoice.

A look at the week of February 13 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, President Obama released his budget proposal which seeks to increase funding for science and technology education. In order to address industry concerns about cyber over-regulation by the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate bill will allow certain firms to appeal some regulations. A new report on health IT suggests that more health IT job opportunities are available than qualified people to fill them.

Obama Budget Includes Tech-Friendly Signals — President Obama is seeking a 2.6 percent increase to $3 billion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, reports National Journal. The budget outlines goals to increase the number of STEM college graduates by 1 million over the next decade. Obama also would increase R&D spending by $2 billion or 1.4 percent over last year’s appropriations. More money would flow to programs at agencies like NASA, the Energy Department, and the Homeland Security Department, which would see a 26 percent increase in R&D funding.

Senate Cybersecurity Bill Would Let Firms Appeal Homeland Security Regulations — The leadership of the Senate Homeland Security Committee will introduce a comprehensive cybersecurity bill on Tuesday that would allow firms to appeal whether new security regulations should apply to their sector. Several groups representing portions of the private sector considered part of the critical infrastructure have expressed concern about the impact of the regulations on both security and the bottom line, says The Hill.

Demand Exceeds Supply for Some Health IT Jobs — A recent brief from eHealth Initiative asserts more health IT job opportunities are available than qualified people to fill them, especially on the health data exchange front. The report comes on the heels of a Feb. 1 update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that reveals jobs in the healthcare sector will outpace growth in other sectors through 2020, says Healthcare IT News.

A look at the week of February 6 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week Reuters looks at how companies that have been victims of cyberattacks are disclosing – or not disclosing – these breaches to investors and the government. A House panel has approved a cyber bill giving the Department of Homeland Security authority in determining what type of infrastructure requires agency oversight. Government Health IT explores the future of health IT in a polarized political environment.

Hacked Companies Still Not Telling Investors — At least a half-dozen major U.S. companies whose computers have been infiltrated by cyber criminals or international spies have not admitted to the incidents despite new guidance from and the Securities and Exchange Commission urging such disclosures. The vast majority of companies addressing the issue only used new boilerplate language to describe a general risk, but some hacking victims did not even do that, says Reuters.

House Panel Approves Bill to Increase DHS Cybersecurity Oversight — A House Homeland Security subcommittee approved legislation aimed at clarifying the government’s role in combating cyberattacks. The bill would task the Department of Homeland Security with determining what “critical infrastructure,” such as the power grid or our financial systems, require federal oversight from existing agencies, reports National Journal . Such proposals have sparked concern over government ability to control private networks.

Will Health IT Bipartisanship Survive the Elections? — Though support for health IT has transcended party lines in the past, healthcare reform is arguably a hot-button political issue. Government Health IT looks at the political environment surrounding the adoption of electronic health records and establishment of both health information exchanges (HIE) and the highly-contentious health insurance exchanges (HIX) and where the presidential candidates stand.

A look at the week of December 19 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, Fierce Health IT reports that health IT professionals are some of the most in-demand members of the workforce. The Hill listed network protections as one of Congress’s top priorities for 2012. Federal CIO Steven Van Roekel wants to break agencies’ habit of clinging to outdated technology.

Demand for Health IT Professionals Continues To Rise — There is a significant demand for health IT professionals with medical experience, says a new report from MedZilla.com. MedZilla estimates that 50,000 new health IT-related jobs have been created since the passage of the HITECH Act in 2009, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics recently projected that health IT jobs would increase by 20 percent annually through 2018, far above the average for any other occupation, reports Fierce HealthIT.

The Hill Sees Network Security as Top Tech Priority of 2012 — The Hill reports that pressure on Congress to improve the country's network protections will continue to increase. House Republicans have recently begun moving on a series of measures designed to encourage information-sharing between the private sector and government. Meanwhile the Senate is close to finalizing a proposal much closer to the White House's plan, which would give the Department of Homeland Security broader authority to ensure critical infrastructure firms comply with government security standards.

Federal CIO Pushes for New Systems, Shared Services — Agency information technology shops often spend so much time and money trying to get the full value from old investments that there are not sufficient resources available to try something new, federal Chief Information Officer Steven Van Roekel said this week. The result: agencies pay more in the long run to maintain old technology and are saddled with sudden funding challenges when those systems finally break down, reports Nextgov.com. Earlier this month, Van Roekel outlined a shared services strategy aimed at consolidating IT functions, first within divisions and then at agency and interagency levels.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced several changes to encourage the adoption of electronic health records, specifically by delaying Stage 2 of meaningful use standards by one year. According to HHS, “to encourage faster adoption, the Secretary announced that HHS intends to allow doctors and hospitals to adopt health IT this year, without meeting the new standards until 2014. Doctors who act quickly can also qualify for incentive payments in 2011 as well as 2012. These policy changes are accompanied by greater outreach efforts that will provide more information to doctors and hospitals about best practices and to vendors whose products allow health care providers to meaningfully use EHRs.”

In addition to this announcement, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report titled “Electronic Health Record Systems and Intent to Apply for Meaningful Use Incentives Among Office-based Physician Practices: United States, 2001–2011.” The report profiles trends in the adoption of health IT. Among the data provided in the report, the CDC notes that 57% of office-based physicians used EHR / EMR systems and 34% had a system in place that met the criteria for a basic system.

While trends have clearly increased in both the adoption and use of health IT, there is more work to be done – especially among small healthcare providers. We at CompTIA continue to believe that the key to ensuring a broader adoption of health IT is to create solid partnerships between small medical providers and small IT solution providers. This partnership would allow medical providers to focus on the health of their patients, while allowing highly skilled IT professionals to implement this complex system.

Health IT is a vital part of increasing the health of patients throughout the country. Additionally, health IT is an opportunity to grow the workforce and add jobs. According to the HHS Office of the National Coordinator, “the number of health IT job postings increased 201 percent from January 2007 through September 2011.”

A look at the week of November 14 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, authored an op-ed citing the urgent need for cyber legislation. A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill allowing states to collect sales tax on online purchases. The Institute of Medicine released a report recommending the creation of an independent federal entity to monitor effects of health IT.

Ramping Up U.S. Cybersecurity; Op-Ed — Politico published an op-ed by Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), discussing the importance of cybersecurity awareness and the steps DHS is taking to promote good cyber practices. Napolitano underscores the need for urgent legislative action on a vital matter of national security.

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduces Online Sales Tax Bill — A bipartisan group of 10 senators introduced a bill to allow states to tax online purchases through the online vendor. The Marketplace Fairness Act, spearheaded by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) would close what they characterize as a loophole that treats online retailers differently than traditional brick-and-mortar stores, says The Hill. Small business advocates have come out against this bill, arguing that high compliance costs will hurt bottom lines and discourage business expansion.

IOM Recommends Independent Safety Agency for Health IT — A recent report from the Institute of Medicine finds that digitized records and other health IT products are expected to improve patient safety — but only when the products are well-designed and correctly used. The magnitude of the health IT safety problem, or how the harms of the products stack up against their benefits, isn’t known, says The Wall Street Journal. The IOM recommends setting up an independent federal entity akin to the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate deaths, serious injuries or unsafe conditions associated with health IT.

A look at the week of September 19 in public advocacy for the IT channel:

This week, agencies report doubts about the White House “cloud first” policy as cyberattacks continue to be a rising threat.  Government Health IT takes an in-depth look at the joint electronic health record (EHR) project that the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working on.  As the job market in the U.S. continues to struggle, lawmakers consider programs to attract foreign investment and entrepreneurs.

Agencies Report Concerns with Cloud Migration — Politico reports that federal agencies — ranging from the Defense and State departments to the National Institutes of Health — are having second thoughts about moving government secrets and essential functions to the Web in the face of a growing number of cyberattacks from online assailants. The agencies worry that a White House policy instituted late last year requiring them to move services to cloud computing puts their concerns over cybersecurity second.


DOD and VA Face Challenges in Open Source EHR Project — The joint electronic health record (EHR) project that the Department of Defense and VA are creating is the largest and possibly most challenging open source project a federal health agency has undertaken, says Government Health IT. Managing the demands of two departments currently running on different records systems, integrating private providers, and working with the open source code that will sprout around the next-generation EHR is complicated, but the most difficult part might be creating a climate similar to Linux, in which the VA, DoD, partners, vendors and private providers all share code under an open source license. 


Lawmakers Praise Visa Programs to Attract Foreign Investors, Entrepreneurs — Lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee's Immigration subpanel praised two visa programs that could create thousands of jobs in the US, reports The Hill. The proposals are backed by many tech companies, which rely heavily on foreign investors and entrepreneurs.  The EB-5 investor visa program aims to attract foreign investment to the US but is set to expire in 2012. The second program, the start-up visa program, is part of a bill introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), which would encourage entrepreneurs to start their businesses in this country.

A look at the week of September 12 in public advocacy for the IT channel:

This week, Obama revealed a new jobs plan with tax cuts targeted at small businesses.  Now that Congress is back in session, cybersecurity is topping their agenda.  The healthcare industry reports it is understaffed, in terms of its IT needs. 

Small Business Is Focus of Tax Cuts— The Wall Street Journal reports that President Barack Obama's new jobs plan seeks to coax wary employers to invest and hire more by slicing their share of payroll taxes next year.  But while the payroll-tax cuts figures appeal to Republican lawmakers, the cuts face some resistance. Many Republicans and even some small business advocates are opposed to more temporary tax breaks. Some liberal Democrats are nervous about reducing the taxes that are paid to support Social Security, even though the administration promises its plan would have no impact on the program.


Congress to Target Cybersecurity — House lawmakers returned from the August recess resolved to fight the nation’s cyber adversaries with a flurry of new legislative proposals aiming to boost security of public and private networks and infrastructure, says Politico. Key House members are readying a series of bills that address a variety of online security issues — from toughening law enforcement of cybercrimes to giving the Department of Homeland Security oversight of federal IT and critical infrastructure security to lessening liability for private companies that adopt cybersecurity best practices.


Hospitals Put Out ‘Help Wanted’ Sign for IT Personnel — While high unemployment continues to drag on the rest of the economy, the healthcare industry can’t seem to find enough qualified people to fill its information technology needs, reports Healthcare IT News. Unlike other sectors where hiring remains muted, health systems are crying out for talent in IT, information management and coding, employment specialists say.

A look at the week of August 29 in public advocacy for the IT channel: 

This week, government agencies take steps to expand health IT to rural areas.  States and businesses struggle over sales tax as more transactions take place in cyberspace.  A new report finds that IT workers received millions of dollars in recruitment, retention and relocation incentives in 2009.  

HHS, USDA Align To Reach Rural Areas with Health IT — The Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding linking rural hospitals and clinicians to capital loan programs to help them purchase software and hardware needed to implement health IT, reports Healthcare IT News.


States Struggle To Tax Online Commerce — As cloud computing expands, states are beginning to tackle the complicated issue of how to collect tax revenue on intangible items and services crossing state lines.  The murky situation hurts both states, which stand to take a big hit in revenue if they can’t collect on these purchases, and companies forced to spend large amounts of money on tax consultants and then settlements when things go wrong, Bloomberg reports.


Agencies Gave IT Workers $14 Million in Bonuses in 2009 — A new report from the Office of Personnel Management found that 45 agencies paid more than $349 million in recruitment, retention and relocation incentives to employees in occupations critical to agency missions, including information technology, says Nextgov.com.  Specifically, agencies paid out 892 incentives totaling $10.3 million to retain IT managers. Agencies also offered 252 incentives totaling $2.3 million to recruit IT managers, and 125 incentives totaling $1.7 million to relocate IT managers, according to the report.

A look at the week of August 22 in public advocacy for the IT channel:  

This week, Amazon announced a new cloud service geared toward government agencies.  Peter Orszag, former director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Obama, believes the HITECH Act is creating significant value in healthcare.  The White House wants to expand the role of agency CIOs to encompass management of the agency’s total IT portfolio.

Amazon Launches Gov-Only Cloud — Amazon's new "GovCloud" service offers the same basic security features as other portions of its public cloud and also allows agencies to comply with other regulations governing treatment of federal data. The new service is only accessible to U.S. citizens or permanent residents holding a green card, opening up the cloud provider's services to more sensitive data from agencies that must comply with strict data-handling regulations such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, reports Nextgov.com.

Healthcare Prognosis Better with Digital Law — Peter Orszag, vice chairman of global banking at Citigroup and a former director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Obama Administration, wrote an op-ed for Bloomberg in support of the HITECH Act.  Orzag states that electronic medical records are revolutionizing healthcare by allowing providers to be more selective in ordering tests, improving efficiency and sharing information to create best practices, thus creating greater value in healthcare.

Seeking Better IT Management, Obama Administration Broadens CIO Role — In a memo released last week, Jacob J. Lew, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Chief Intelligence Officers’ responsibilities should now go beyond simply policymaking and infrastructure maintenance to truly oversee an agency’s total IT portfolio. CIOs should lead the review process and identify underperforming programs that should be canceled or changed, as well as drive down costs on basic equipment and services, reports Washington Post.