The Homeland Security Department’s new preparedness unit is urging state governors to prepare cybersecurity plans, adopt a new national XML-based model for information-sharing and implement newly developed common rules for geospatial content. The recommendations are some of the most detailed that the federal government has made to states and local governments to date on using IT in the fight against terrorism. The IT-related guidance is included in the fiscal 2006 grant application kit for the distribution of $3.9 billion in federal homeland security grants to states and localities this year, published by the preparedness directorate.