Net Neutrality, Advisory Committee ‘Concerns’ for DoD Official
Net neutrality has made its way into DoD policy discussion, judging by comments of John Grimes, Pentagon CIO and asst. Secy.-networks & information integration. Speaking to FCBA members Wed., Grimes touched briefly on net neutrality, satellite issues and what he called the recent politicization of the National Security Telecom Advisory Committee (NSTAC), among many other matters.
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An information network means information is available over multiple pathways, Grimes said. Network neutrality means keeping those pathways clear, he said. “When you start talking about charges and costs, it does have an impact” on the ability of that network to remain useful in national security and emergency responses, he said. Grimes didn’t comment further on the matter.
Grimes voiced disappointment at what he called the NSTAC’s politicization. The body, crucial to homeland security efforts, has “gotten politicized” the past 2 presidential administrations, he said.
Strict rules determine selection of member companies from telecom, IT and defense companies. The president chooses the officials from those companies to sit on the committee. Created by President Reagan in 1982 in the climate that led to the AT&T breakup, the panel is to provide “industry-based advice and expertise to the President on issues and problems related to implementing national security and emergency preparedness communications policy.” NSTAC’s executive agent is DHS Chmn. Michael Chertoff, but it advises and answers to the president exclusively. Representatives for Grimes didn’t return our requests to elaborate on his comments.
NSTAC will hold a semipublic meeting Dec. 19 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The most important topics will be emergency communications and interoperability, and telecom- electric power interdependency.
Grimes’s “concerns” also include foreign ownership of companies whose satellites serve national security or emergency response functions; defense networks’ vulnerability to cyber-warfare, about which he said incoming Secy. of Defense Robert Gates has raised questions; 400 MHz band location services’ network technology quality; and WiMAX capabilities in Pacific countries of strategic use to the U.S. military.