[ISN] High-tech security may get $1 billion boost

[R. A. Hettinga]

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Status:  U
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 02:01:46 -0600 (CST)
From: InfoSec News <isn at c4i.org>
To: isn at attrition.org
Subject: [ISN] High-tech security may get $1 billion boost
Sender: owner-isn at attrition.org
Reply-To: InfoSec News <isn at c4i.org>

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7749471.html?tag=mn_hd

By Robert Lemos
Special to CNET News.com
November 1, 2001, 12:20 p.m. PT

A $20 billion stimulus package in the works by Senate Democrats may
include $1 billion to bankroll an information-technology fund, CNET
News.com has learned.

As proposed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget would administer the fund and award money to
projects that aim to further protect the United States' critical
infrastructures, improve the security of government computer systems,
or harden the nation's defenses against natural and manmade threats.

Leslie Phillips, communications director for the Senate Governmental
Affairs Committee--headed by Lieberman--confirmed the fund is likely
to be part of the economic stimulus proposal being created by
Democratic senators.

"Lieberman wants to see the economic stimulus put to good use, and
there is no better use than bolstering our homeland defense through an
IT Fund," she said in an e-mail interview.

"New information technologies can improve aviation security, defenses
against biological and chemical attacks, and communication between law
enforcement agencies, just to name a few examples. These investments
will better protect Americans and help revive the flagging high-tech
sector."

The IT Fund has been proposed as part of the $20 billion economic
stimulus package being created by Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chairman
of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Unlike the $89 billion stimulus plan proposed by Senate Republicans on
Tuesday, which focused on tax cuts, the Democrats' proposal would
provide funding for federal law enforcement and anti-terrorism
activities, transportation security, response to bioterrorism threats,
protection of the critical infrastructure, and border security.

Along with a tax-cut proposal being readied by Sen. Max Baucus,
D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the stimulus
package to be proposed by Senate Democrats could total $55 billion.

The potential of getting a $1 billion shot in the arm has IT
executives hopeful.

"We very much like the idea," said Robert Holleyman, CEO of the
Business Software Alliance. "Spending $1 billion of federal
investments in information technology is certainly significant. The
bigger effect, of course, is that (the fund) will provide for
increased security at the same time."

In addition to the IT Fund, a significant portion of the Democratic
spending package could go toward IT companies, said sources familiar
with the proposal. For example, approximately $1.7 billion is
earmarked for agencies that deal with homeland defense, and some of
that will almost certainly be used for upgrading technology systems.



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-- 
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R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah at ibuc.com>
The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/>
44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA
"... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity,
[predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to
experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'



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