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Have \no expectations of privacy\ on ASG computers

The Treasury Department has spelled out in the government’s Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, a set of rules when it comes to the use of ASG technology systems and this includes prohibited access to unauthorized internet sites, according to the AUP form sample included in Treasury Department’s 100-day report to the Governor’s Office.

 

The report revealed that the Timecard Online initiative is being launched to be in place by the end of the year as part of ASG’s agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor.

 

These are some of the issues in the report dealing with Treasury’s IT Division.

 

USER POLICY

 

Over the years, there have been concerns raised in the Fono and by other members of the community over ASG computers being used to access certain internet sites, as well as for non-governmental purposes. The same concerns surfaced early this year when the Lolo administration took the helm of government.

 

According to the Privacy provision of the AUP, access to unauthorized content or unauthorized internet sites — e.g. violent, profane, pornographic, sexual, gross depictions, intolerant, satanic/cult, drug culture, militant/extremist, gambling, alcohol/tobacco, etc. — and use of any ASG network resource for commercial purposes or personal purposes without prior authorization “is strictly prohibited”.

 

It also warns users that they “should have no expectation of privacy while using American Samoa Government information systems, as all activities are monitored for security purposes.”

 

Under the Restricted Access provision, users, among other things, must not attempt to access restricted files or portions of operating systems, security systems or administrative systems to which they have not being given access.

 

Also prohibited under the AUP is forwarding of chain letters, phishing scams and virus warnings. Additionally, the ASG system should not be used to access social networking websites — such as Facebook, Pogo, etc.

 

Users are required to sign the AUP acknowledging that they are aware of all the dos and don’ts for use of ASG information systems.

 

TIMECARD ONLINE

 

Another accomplishment by the IT division is called “Timecard Online”, which is an innovative, timely and cost-effective way of collecting employee hours. This system is an IFAS financial computer system screen that will allow timekeepers to input employees hours and route them via an electronic workflow for digital approvals.

 

According to the report, this eliminates the need to route paperwork forms, which is a minimum requirement to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Agreement. Additionally, this initiative will enable American Samoa to be in compliance with U.S. Department Labor laws and mandates as required in “our Agreement to be effective as of Dec. 31, 2013.”

 

While no additional information was cited in the report about this agreement, Samoa News understands that this is part of ASG's commitment under its negotiations with USDOL regarding the $916,000 in overtime pay which is owed to ASG workers from previous years.

 

Details of the agreement have yet to be released but negotiations are ongoing, while funds to pay the required overtime are included in the FY 2013 supplemental appropriations signed into law in April this year.

 

The report pointed out that the IT division is conducting training for all department representatives to transition into the timecard online initiative.

 

WEBSITE AND ONLINE DOMAIN

 

Another IT division accomplishment is implementing the official government-wide email system and .GOV domain.

 

The report pointed out that one of the governor’s directives is to  streamline operations and enhance security by having a single official email system allowing for better communication between all government entities and, as a direct effect, increase productivity.

 

As a result, the IT division was successful in connecting “the Atmail Email Server” to both the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and BlueSky internet connections. “There has been a significant boost in email traffic since the bridge of connections,” the report says, and notes that accessing government email has become easier for departments on both internet service providers as well as accessibility while traveling off island.

 

The report went on to explain that the .GOV domain is the official domain of the federal government for all their internet correspondence and this domain holds more integrity when communicating with government businesses to partner countries, private business or federal counterparts.

 

Currently ASG holds ownership of two domains: americansamoa.gov — which is used for the ASG website — and as.gov, which is used for ASG email addresses.

 

INTEGRATION

 

Another accomplishment noted is the transition of four staff members from what was formerly known as the Information Technology Department to the IT division, and this has provided a boost in overall productivity and allowed the IT division to complete several major projects in a timely manner, the report says.

 

“This combined resources has enabled the division to perform troubleshooting functions, ensuring connectivity and identifying each [ASG] department’s requirement in order to connect to the IFAS [computer] system,” the report says.

 

For those departments that do not meet the minimum security requirements to connect to the financial IFAS system, ‘kiosks’ are set up for departments in both the western and central districts.

 

In the western district, the kiosk is at the Procurement Office with a direct line to the financial system, while the central district has the option of the kiosk on the first floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei.