Last month, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that DHS would discontinue the five-color Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) the federal government instituted in 2002. You will probably remember hearing about the current threat level color code while watching the evening news. By April, the color-coded HSAS will be phased out and replaced by the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). The NTAS will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector. The description of the new system makes it seem more transparent than the last system which never really explained the nature of the threats. It’s hard to tell if the new system really is more transparent than the last because there are no current or expired alerts. You can get email updates or follow changes to the new system on Twitter to see for yourself.  Do you think think the new NTAS will be better? And with that it’s time for me to sign off GovGab. I’ve been asked to do a six-month detail to develop policies to help the government create good mobile products for citizens like yourselves to use. I am excited about the new challenge, but it’s bittersweet for me. I want to thank you all for your support of my posts since 2007. The future will be grand, but you’ve made my years here really fun.