Communications

China is Dumping Fiber Optic Cables in the U.S. Market, Commerce Official Says

The cables are key to the development of fifth-generation networks, and therefore a matter of national security for the Trump administration.

  • By Mariam Baksh

OMB Official: We Need More Cross-Agency Collaboration Tools

Mass teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital government, including a lack of communication options for interagency collaboration.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Industry Calls on Government to Invest Billions for Developing Secure 5G Networks 

Comments to the NTIA also say the administration shouldn’t choose winners and losers to compete with Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Pandemic Reveals Need to Make Airwaves More Resilient

The spectrum's sweet spot—frequencies in the mid-range—can carry significant amounts of data while reaching many users but are reserved for the government.

  • By Yosry A. Barsoum

5G-Focused Legislation Aims to Improve Security in Military Telecom Infrastructure

The DoD 5G Act would direct the launch of a Defense Secretary-led telecommunications security program.

  • By Brandi Vincent

NSA Revises Guidance on Teleworking Services for Government Users

The agency now notes end-to-end encryption may not be an option for some use cases. 

  • By Mariam Baksh

FCC Directs First 5G-Focused Universal Service Funding to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

Both territories’ communications infrastructures were ravaged by hurricanes in recent years. 

  • By Brandi Vincent

Commerce to Allow Sharing Certain Technology with Huawei

The move aims to facilitate full U.S. participation in international standards-setting bodies.

  • By Mariam Baksh

'Telepresence' Can Help Bring Advanced Courses to Schools that Don't Offer Them

Using telepresence enables schools to offer students advanced courses they wouldn’t otherwise be able to take.

  • By Jennifer Darling-Aduana and Carolyn Heinrich, The Conversation

FCC Proposes $225 Million Fine for Telemarketers Behind Massive Robocall Operation

The automated calls misled those who answered into thinking they were from major health insurance providers.

  • By Brandi Vincent

Senators Call for Legislation to Ensure Security Reviews of Foreign Telecoms

The bipartisan report says a recent executive order on the issue doesn’t go far enough.

  • By Mariam Baksh

New Air-Ops Software to Get 5G Test Outside Las Vegas

The Air Force will build a 5G network at Nellis AFB, the latest U.S. base to host experiments with the next-gen comms gear.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Pandemic Organizers Are Co-opting Productivity Software

Mutual-aid groups are distributing groceries and spare air conditioners via tools designed to turn labor into money as efficiently as possible.

  • By Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic

NSA Attributes Attacks on Common E-mail Transfer Software to Russian Agents 

A patch for the vulnerability the hackers are targeting has existed for almost a year.

  • By Mariam Baksh

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White House to Seek Comment on National 5G Security Strategy 

The Pentagon and others want to move beyond activities focused on excluding Huawei and other equipment deemed tools of foreign adversaries from the ecosystem.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Bill Would Increase Broadband, Telehealth Capabilities in Rural America

Senate legislation would direct $2 billion in funding to help meet increased broadband demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • By Frank Konkel

NIST Wants Help Demonstrating Security Compliance in 5G  

The new project will help develop interoperability among various components of the emerging network architecture.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Lawmakers Want ‘Immediate Action’ to Encrypt Calls Between the House and Senate

The group is pushing for increased security for legislative branch communications due to spying threats. 

  • By Frank Konkel

Air Force Leaders Fret As Another Satellite Maker Declares Bankruptcy

Service leaders are asking for Congressional help in shoring up the defense industrial base.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Under Social Distancing, Rural Regions Push For More Broadband

More than a fifth of Americans in rural areas lack broadband.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

COVID-19 More Likely to Accelerate Telecom Modernization than Cause Delays, GSA Officials Say

The pandemic has delayed some agency transitions to the $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract, but those are outliers, according to program leads.

  • By Aaron Boyd