GAO found 26 long-range national security threats as identified by federal agencies, including the possibility adversaries could apply commercially available artificial intelligence to weapons. Other threats in Thursday's report include disrupting IoT-enabled critical infrastructure and devices; “developing autonomous capabilities that could recognize faces, understand gestures, and match voices of U.S. personnel, which could compromise U.S. operations”; and launching cyberattacks against critical and military infrastructure. Threat categories are: Adversaries’ Political and Military Advancements, Dual-Use Technologies, and Weapons, Events and Demographic Changes. DOD, the State and Homeland Security departments and Office of the Director of National Intelligence identified risks, and GAO reviewed national security documents and interviewed officials, it said. DOD told GAO the study provides “an accurate although sobering macro picture of how the US stands in the world against emerging threats.” The report is a public version of a classified one issued Sept. 28.
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a recommendation Thursday that new rules aimed at protecting the national security of networks be narrowly tailored to prevent disruptions. Commissioners approved an NPRM in April that would bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain (see 1804170038). Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday those security concerns remain a commission focus (see 1812120043).
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a recommendation Thursday that new rules aimed at protecting the national security of networks be narrowly tailored to prevent disruptions. Commissioners approved an NPRM in April that would bar use of money in any USF program to buy equipment or services from companies that “pose a national security threat” to U.S. communications networks or the communications supply chain (see 1804170038). Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday those security concerns remain a commission focus (see 1812120043).
It's wrong for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to tie a labor strike to the state’s fight with Charter Communications over broadband deployment, state Sen. Robert Ortt (R) in a statement to us. Cuomo, elected last month to a third term, may be applying whatever pressure he can to make good on his policy goal of extending broadband statewide, academics said. The Public Service Commission revoked the Time Warner Cable buyout in July, but it’s unlikely the state will give the boot to Charter, they said.
It's wrong for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) to tie a labor strike to the state’s fight with Charter Communications over broadband deployment, state Sen. Robert Ortt (R) in a statement to us. Cuomo, elected last month to a third term, may be applying whatever pressure he can to make good on his policy goal of extending broadband statewide, academics said. The Public Service Commission revoked the Time Warner Cable buyout in July, but it’s unlikely the state will give the boot to Charter, they said.
A potential fight is brewing over whether 211, 611, 911 or an all-new three-digit number should be designated for a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Each has backers and detractors, in docket 18-336 comments posted Tuesday. Comments were due as the FCC looks at implementation of August's National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act (see 1808140037).
Parties backed an FCC effort to improve 911 calling and location accuracy, noting technical challenges. There was broad support for proposals to implement Kari's Law requirements requiring 911 direct dialing from multiline telephone systems (MLTS) in larger enterprises. Industry resisted some potential regulations, particularly on a Ray Baum's Act (see 1812110052) mandate to consider requiring "dispatchable location" information is conveyed with calls to responders. Telecom and VoIP providers, equipment makers, public safety entities, enterprise groups and others filed over 30 comments in docket 18-261 through Tuesday on an NPRM (see 1809260047).
The California Public Utilities Commission aims to decide by Q2 on T-Mobile’s $26 billion buy of Sprint, Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen said at a Monday workshop. The CPUC plans at least three public workshops around the state before then, he said. The New York Public Service Commission is also closely scrutinizing the deal. Other states have given OKs more quickly (see 1812030029).
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council reported issues are raised by implementation of mission critical push to talk on FirstNet, focusing on identity management. “Identity is a critical component of first responder safety," it noted Tuesday. "Today, most public safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems support the transmission of a Unit ID which is used by communications center personnel and field supervisors to verify which first responder is communicating. That identity information is crucial during high-risk events and other emergencies.”
As more nations and commercial operators enter space, hazy international space norms and rules will start to crystalize, said State Department international space lawyer Gabriel Swiney at an International Institute of Space Law symposium Wednesday. The Outer Space Treaty's Article IX "due regard" provision -- requiring a party to consider the impact of its actions and refrain from behavior that doesn’t give due regard to interests of others -- could become the enforcement teeth for those norms, he said.