Government Accountability Office

GAO found major broadcasters produced about 76 to 84 percent of prime time programming hours.

In response to the ongoing threats to federal systems and operations posed by cyber attacks, President Bush established the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) in 2008. This initiative consists of a set of projects aimed at reducing vulnerabilities, protecting against intrusions, and anticipating future threats. GAO was asked to determine 1) what actions have been taken to develop interagency mechanisms to plan and coordinate CNCI activities and 2) what challenges CNCI faces in achieving its objectives related to securing federal information systems.

The Government Accountability Office more than 60 operational health information exchanges and a selection of each of the exchanges' participating providers.

The Government Accountability Office surveyed adult wireless phone users and found 84 percent of users are very or somewhat satisfied with their wireless phone service. But GAO's survey results and analysis of Federal Communications Commission complaint data indicate that some wireless phone service consumers have experienced problems with billing, certain contract terms, and customer service.

The Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture should ensure sufficient time to review applications in the second broadband stimulus funding round, develop contingency plans for oversight beyond fiscal year 2010, and develop program performance measures.

GAO was asked to provide a statement describing 1) cyber threats to federal information systems and cyber-based critical infrastructures, 2) control deficiencies at federal agencies that make these systems and infrastructures vulnerable to cyber threats, and 3) opportunities that exist for improving federal cybersecurity.

The nation's critical infrastructure sectors (e.g., energy, banking) rely extensively on information technology systems. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued guidance in 2006 that instructed lead federal agencies, referred to as sector-specific agencies, to develop plans for protecting the sector's critical cyber and other (physical) infrastructure. These agencies issued plans in 2007, but GAO found that none fully addressed all 30 cyber security-related criteria identified in DHS's guidance and recommended that the plans be updated to address it by September 2008.

In testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee, the Government Accountability Office's Mark Goldstein provided preliminary information on the challenges Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) face in distributing broadband stimulus grants and loans; the steps taken to address challenges; and the remaining risks in 1) evaluating applications and awarding funds and 2) overseeing funded projects.

The Broadband Data Improvement Act required Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to consider and evaluate additional broadband metrics or standards.

Government functions and effective disaster response and management rely on the ability of national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) personnel to communicate.