Nebraska
Nebraska Broadband Director Patrick Haggerty to Depart May 1
DOT Director Vicki Kramer will take over the role on an interim basis.
Public Safety
Rep. Fulcher Presses FCC to Move Faster on GPS Backup
New filings deepen debate over terrestrial GPS alternatives.
Public Safety
NextNav Urges FCC to Advance Rulemaking on 5G-Based GPS Backup
Public safety leaders split over NextNav’s bid for a 5G based GPS backup
Commerce
Senate Commerce Moves to Boost Foreign Investment in High-Tech Sectors
Committee also advances bill to counter cybersecurity risks in oil and gas pipelines.
SpaceX
Trump Signs Executive Order to Bolster Competition in Commercial Space Industry
Order seeks to streamline permitting processes, pare down environmental review
Expert Opinion
Meeting A National Security Challenge: The Race To GPS Resiliency
The lack of a backup to GPS is one of the U.S.’s biggest national security risks.
Defense Department
NextNav: GPS Backup Promises $14.6 Billion in Economic Benefits
New analysis reveals potential for billions in savings with ground-based GPS system.
Infrastructure
Expedited Federal Review Boosts Rollout of Broadband Initiatives
Permitting changes are accelerating the expansion of semiconductor fabs and solar developments.
NTIA
Federal Agencies Release Memorandum of Understanding
The agreement was signed in May and creates uniform formats across agencies for broadband grant programs.
ARPA
Maine Awards Community Anchor Institutions $12M
The money will fund digital improvements to 12 community organizations across Maine.
AI
Experts Disagree on Financial AI Use
Experts argue that AI introduces new economic risk while others claim it increases firm capabilities.
FSF
FCC Commissioner Carr Hopes Musk Follows Through on Proposed Twitter Speech Reforms
Carr said he’s “very glad to hear” of Musk’s Twitter purchase, but still thinks Section 230 reform is necessary.
House Transportation
Congressional Witnesses Say Lack of Agency Resources is Holding Back Government Cybersecurity Efforts
House Freedom Caucus Rep. Scott Perry calls GOP supporters of the bipartisan infrastructure measure “socialist-voting members.”
House Transportation
House Democrats Whipping Biden Votes, Delays in 5G, Opposition to Cybersecurity Mandates
Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces final challenges from moderate House Democrats in push to pass President Biden’s spending bill Friday.
Defense Department
Senate Commerce Committee Advances Two Tech Bills, FCC Opens E-Rate Window, Starry Unveils New Tools
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday advanced the E-SIGN Modernization Act of 2020 and the Government Spectrum Valuation Act of 2019 during an executive markup session. Both bills were moved on by thin margins, receiving much disapproval from Democratic committee members. The E-SIGN Modernizat
FAA
Speaking at Commerce Department Symposium, Federal Agencies Doubt Benefits of Spectrum Plan
WASHINGTON, September 10, 2019- Federal agencies speaking at radiofrequency symposium hosted on Tuesday by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Symposium expressed doubts that any kind of a national spectrum strategy would be useful. Addressing speculation that the Commerce
