REDUX: Drones approving Drones, competition for TSA, & GPS rules

BTC- The FAA appropriations bill for $63 billion in federal spending permitting GPS location use by air traffic controllers, approved airspace for drones and gave airports the ability to privatize airport security to swap with that of the TSA.

The U.S. agency must allow airports to switch to private companies for screeners unless it can show the move wouldn’t be cost-effective and would be detrimental to security, according to the legislation, which the Senate cleared today for President Barack Obama’s signature. The House approved the measure Feb. 3.  c/o Businessweek

A bill to speed the nation's switch from radar to an air traffic control system based on GPS technology, and to open U.S. skies to unmanned drone flights within four years, received final congressional approval Monday.The FAA is also required under the bill to provide military, commercial and privately-owned drones with expanded access to U.S. airspace currently reserved for manned aircraft by Sept. 30, 2015. That means permitting unmanned drones controlled by remote operators on the ground to fly in the same airspace as airliners, cargo planes, business jets and private aircraft.  c/o AP

Here is second life for news that matters:

FBI cuts back on GPS surveillance after Supreme Court Ruling c/o USA Today

SOPA author Lamar Smith earmarked $950K to upgrade intersection by his house @declanm

Czech Government Suspends ACTA Ratification c/o Tech Crunch

Victoria BC [Canada]'s Massive Public Traffic Surveillance System  {Hint: ALPR} @Slashdot

Facebook acknowledges deleted photos not removed for up to three years c/o SFGate

Hi Tech Surveillance comes to small towns c/o WSJ
Here is a list of small towns in the US the market (FL,SoCal, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, to name a few) Check to see if it's coming near you.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012: Information for Concerned Activists  @CCR

7 health data privacy and security trends to track in 2012 c/o GovHealthIT

Backdoor in TRENDnet IP (Computer) Cameras Provide Real-Time Peeping Tom Paradise? c/o Networked World

Opposition Rallies Against E-Verify Initiative

SPRINGFIELD, MO --The controversial E-Verify initiative goes to voters on Tuesday.

Those in favor and against have been rallying for weeks and now three days before polls open, a final push has the opposition working the streets.

Supporters of the Citizens for a United Springfield organization rallied against E-Verify today with their "Vote No" campaign, hitting the streets today in Springfield, knocking on doors and delivering yard signs opposing E-Verify.

"Cardless National ID and the E-Verify Rebellion"

"A bill pending in the New Hampshire House responds to a more insidious version of the federal government’s national ID plans: E-Verify.


E-Verify is a federal background check system that its proponents intend to be used on every person seeking work in the United States. Once in place, E-Verify would expand to new uses, giving the federal government direct regulatory control of all Americans’ lives through control of proof of identity. It’s being fitted to operate using only databases, so I’ve been referring to it as a “cardless national ID.”