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According to this press release from the Department of the Treasury, today the IRS will announce details about a new program (IRS Free File) that facilitates the free e-filing of tax forms by most Americans. The home page for Free File is here. The IRS entered into a agreement with a consortium of tax software …
The website for the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives provides quick access to a wealth of information for the 108th Congress, including: an official, searchable list of members (by name or state), links to Democratic and Republican leadership data, links to House Floor Proceedings for the last 7 legislative days, …
Following quickly on the heels of Sen. Harkin’s letter requesting a hearing on the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program, Vermont’s Senator Leahy also sent a letter to Attorney General Ashcroft requesting answers to a list of specific questions, so at to determine “the extent to which the Justice Department is relying on data-mining” applications and …
Something has gone terribly wrong with the FCC’s Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries. Known as the E-Rate Fund, the objective of the program, part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is to ensure low-cost public access to Internet services for needy schools and libraries throughout the country. The fund is capped at $2.5 …
According to a January 7, 2003 press release from Privacy & American Business (P&AB), “A majority (56%-91%) of the U.S. public believes it is acceptable for the private sector to use biometric technologies.” The study was funded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The full-text of the survey is available to P&AB members in the …
Federal Computer Week reports on efforts underway by the United States Postal Service to create and implement uniform customer data collection activities to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 as it applies to website transactions.
The National Intellectual Property Researchers Association (NIPRA), whose members “serve as the world’s main concentration point for IP information disseminated by the USPTO,” have sued the USPTO in District Court for the ED of Virginia. Their action was precipitated by the USPTO’s project to transition from a paper document collection to an online access system. …
The FTC announced the launch of a new website on cross-border fraud. The site states, “This website has information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid cross-border fraud. You also can review the Federal Trade Commissions recent law enforcement actions against cross-border scam artists, and learn how the agency is working with law enforcement agencies …
Released today, a new Pew Internet Project report, The Internet and campaign 2002, indicates that there was a growth in the use of websites by Americans seeking news about elections, and candidate information. See also this related article by Marc Glaser, Blogs Go Highbrow and Lowbrow; Net Playing Growing Role in U.S. Elections.
Internet News reports that the IRS will implement a completely automated FOI system this year in accordance with requirements of the 1996 Freedom of Information Act Amendments. See this Federal Computer Week article for more information about the new IRS software program, VeFOIA, and its developer.
A new Department of Commerce website has been launched that targets America’s estimated 35.3 million Hispanic population. See this Government Technology article for more information.
See this IRS press release for information on new e-filing features for taxpayers, including the all important “Where’s My Refund” that will be rolled out soon.
