Census IT migraine returns

Just when we thought the 2010 census was under control, two government investigators told Congress there are still flaws within key software and hardware systems.

The main problem is a software system that manages the maps and workloads for census takers nationwide. It provides data on households that haven't responded by mail to the survey. "The testing of the system is continuing to reveal critical defects," Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser testified. He warned that possible solutions must be tested and implemented quickly to keep costs under control.

This news is dangerously close to the start date for the census. It's being mailed out next week and people are supposed to start responding in April. By summer, census workers will be canvassing households that haven't responded to the census, using the software that is now in question.

Census Director Robert Groves acknowledged the problems: "The performance of this system is not taking the load we'd like. It's not going to accept the load that we will need to get it in about a month or so."

For more on the census:
- see this Wall Street Journal blog

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