Digital Government
FCC to vote on georouting for suicide and crisis lifeline calls
The FCC plans to vote on rules during its Oct. 17 open meeting that would require all U.S. wireless carriers to implement georouting for calls to the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
Policy
Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December
A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.
Artificial Intelligence
FTC takes action against 5 AI companies under new initiative
Operation AI Comply spotlights allegedly fraudulent systems as a new FTC program to keep companies honest about their automated offerings.
Acquisition
FBI’s Carahsoft raid comes amid allegations of price-fixing
The leading IT reseller is in the middle of an ongoing False Claims Act case involving multiple vendors.
Ideas
How biometrics can improve the security and efficiency of air travel
COMMENTARY: While we must ensure that biometric technology protects privacy and improves accuracy, abandoning this technology altogether would threaten our national security and set aviation screening back decades.
Emerging Tech
What time is it on the moon? NIST proposes an answer
The establishment of universal moon time would support lunar GPS for future missions.
Cybersecurity
House lawmakers question CrowdStrike exec over July IT outage
A major area of scrutiny was whether CrowdStrike’s flagship endpoint tool needed computer kernel access.
Modernization
VA's EHR clocks more than 800 'major performance incidents' since go-live, watchdog finds
VA’s Office of Inspector General identified 826 outages, degradations and functionality gaps that meet the definition of a major performance incident outlined in the EHR modernization project’s contract.
Breaking News
Acquisition
FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft
The FBI confirmed the raid but declined to provide further details.
Exclusive
Modernization
TMF at the tipping point
The government’s revolving fund to help agencies jumpstart IT modernization and cybersecurity projects is at a “critical juncture,” in terms of funding and congressional support, according to the General Services Administration, which administers the fund.
Exclusive
Acquisition
House lawmaker presses DOD to exclude Chinese display companies from military contracts
BOE Technology Group and Tianma Microelectronics would be added to the DOD’s 1260H restriction list.
Exclusive
Cybersecurity
House bill pitches interagency task force to counter Chinese hacking threats
CISA and FBI leadership would oversee the group, aimed at coordinating federal efforts to stop Chinese cyber intruders from breaching critical infrastructure and other key systems.
Emerging Tech
Commerce shares financial goals for the US quantum industry
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves offered insight into the burgeoning quantum information sciences industry in the U.S., focusing on financing and national security implications.
Cybersecurity
4 more nations sign on to US-led counter-spyware agreement
Austria, Estonia, Lithuania and the Netherlands joined the effort that aims to set standards for countering global spyware abuses.
Modernization
Nearly 40% of FAA air traffic control systems need urgent updates, GAO reports
Several systems, some which aid in navigation and communications, did not have modernization efforts in place, the GAO said.
Cybersecurity
Commerce proposes ban on connected-car tech from China, Russia
The proposed ban stems from a 2019 executive order meant to bolster U.S. supply chains.
Artificial Intelligence
IBM, NASA and Oak Ridge develop a new AI foundation model for weather
The foundation artificial intelligence model will handle specific meteorological data to offer improved accuracy in weather patterns and forecasting.
Artificial Intelligence
House bill looks to expand Energy’s AI research and development
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said the bipartisan proposal would “position the Department of Energy to develop high-performance platforms, responsibly cultivate training data and improve energy efficiency to support safe AI innovation.”
Cybersecurity
GAO to unveil findings on outdated FAA tech systems
The congressional watchdog's forthcoming report will examine legacy air traffic control systems and the agency’s modernization efforts.
Digital Government