Nominee Locascio Eyes NIST Role in US Tech Strength
National Institute of Standards and Technology director nominee Laurie Locascio repeatedly emphasized the agency's role in maintaining U.S. competitiveness in communications and other emerging technologies against China and other adversaries during a Wednesday hearing, in part citing the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act. Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and other members pressed her on a range of tech-related issues, but she faced limited fire amid a focus on other nominees.
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The House, meanwhile, passed four telecom security and reliability measures by lopsided margins (see 2110180001). The chamber voted 420-4 for the Secure Equipment Act (HR-3919/S-1790). FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, House Commerce Committee Democratic and Republican leaders and Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., were among those who praised House OK. Lawmakers voted 413-14 for the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act (HR-4028). The tally for the Open Radio Access Network Outreach Act (HR-4032) was 410-17. The Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council Act (HR-4067) passed 397-29.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., led filing of the Next Generation Telecommunications Act, which would create a group to advise Congress on 6G and other next-gen wireless technologies. Cortez Masto cited the Cyberspace Solarium Commission as a model. The measure would require the council to develop a national telecom strategy aimed at ensuring U.S. competitiveness in broadband and improving telecom network resiliency. Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are co-sponsors.
NIST's role in maintaining U.S. tech competitiveness "is even more essential as China aggressively works to gain positions of leadership in international standards committees," Locascio told Senate Commerce. She believes the U.S. should continue to use public-private partnerships in tech standards development. Locascio later drew interest from Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., on how NIST can aid in promoting standards it develops to "international partners."
Cantwell said "the impact that our weakened supply chain has had on the semiconductor industry has exposed the need to reestablish manufacturing of most advanced semiconductor products" in the U.S. The nation "cannot afford to be dependent on trade with other countries to access this critical technology," she said. Cantwell later pressed Locascio on how NIST can aid in "helping us define standards" for privacy and data security. Locascio noted her interest in continuing NIST's work on expanding its privacy framework modeled on the agency's cybersecurity framework.
Wicker hoped Locascio "understands the critical need to uphold" NIST's reputation for scientific excellence and "thorough collaboration" with industry stakeholders. Locascio should "defend" the agency from "becoming politicized," Wicker said. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., urged Locascio to continue NIST's work to implement her Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things Act. Thune invoked his Quantum Network Infrastructure and Workforce Development Act (S-1161), which was included in the Senate-passed U.S. Competition and Innovation Act (S-1260).