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White House to Ask FCC to Auction Additional Mid-Band Spectrum for 5G; Michael Kratsios Quoted
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White House to Ask FCC to Auction Additional Mid-Band Spectrum for 5G; Michael Kratsios Quoted

The White House has announced plans to free up 100 megahertz of the mid-band spectrum for commercial 5G networks and direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction by Dec. 2021 that swath of radio frequencies used by the military, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

“Under this administration’s approach, the American private sector will continue to build the next 5G networks,” said Michael Kratsios, U.S. chief technology officer and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner.

The report said the Pentagon agreed to subject to fewer restrictions the auction of the additional mid-band spectrum than those used on the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) auction. The auction for CBRS band licenses had attracted bids worth more than $3 billion combined.

“Opening up this critical block of mid-band spectrum for full power commercial operations will enhance U.S. competitiveness in the 5G ecosystem,” Meredith Attwell Baker, president and CEO of the wireless industry association CTIA. “We applaud the White House and Pentagon for finding ways to promote our nation’s leadership of the emerging 5G economy while safeguarding vital defense operations.”

Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman, said the decision of the administration and the Department of Defense (DoD) to open up the 3.45-3.55 gigahertz band is a “key milestone in securing United States leadership in 5G.”

“Together with the spectrum being made available for 5G in the C-band as well as the 3.5 GHz band, we are now on track to have a 530-megahertz swath of mid-band spectrum available for 5G from 3.45 to 3.98 GHz,” Pai said. “The FCC looks forward to moving quickly to adopt service rules for the 3.45 GHz band and then hold an auction to bring this prime mid-band spectrum to market.”

5G Summit Banner

Join Potomac Officers Club for its 5G Summit on Oct. 27, 2020 to learn about the impact that innovative technologies and 5G integration have on the private and public sectors, the steps the federal agencies have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with emerging technology.

Hon. Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD) and four-time Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker. Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for the 5G Summit on October 27th.

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NSF Invests in Quantum Information Science Institutes to Address Network Challenges
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NSF Invests in Quantum Information Science Institutes to Address Network Challenges

The National Science Foundation supported the establishment of three institutes that aim to bolster research and development in quantum information science, Fedscoop reported Friday.

Denise Caldwell, NSF's division director for physics, told reporters that the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes would address the need for a network that reliably facilitates communication between quantum computers.

NSF invested $75 million in the university-led institutes, established in July, that will tackle challenges in the areas of high-fidelity networks and quantum sensing. The institutes will also work to help the government build a quantum technology workforce.

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Congressional Research Service Issues Report on US Emerging Technology Dev’t, Compliance Efforts
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Congressional Research Service Issues Report on US Emerging Technology Dev’t, Compliance Efforts

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released a report stating current initiatives under the Department of Defense (DoD) and Congress to drive the development of emerging technologies and keep up with adversary nations.

The report, released on Aug. 4, includes details on U.S. as well as Russian and Chinese programs involving emerging concepts such as artificial intelligence, hypersonics, directed energy, biotechnology, quantum technology and autonomous capabilities.

CRS also reported updates on funding stabilization efforts, international regulatory compliance and acquisition procedures for rapid prototyping programs focused on dual-use technologies.

Other issues covered by the report include the hiring and retention of technology workers and other initiatives aimed at preventing expropriation and intellectual property theft.

“The U.S. military has long relied upon technological superiority to ensure its dominance in conflict and to underwrite U.S. national security,” the report states. “In recent years, however, technology has both rapidly evolved and rapidly proliferated—largely as a result of advances in the commercial sector.”

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Navy Holds Commissioning for USS St. Louis
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Navy Holds Commissioning for USS St. Louis

The U.S. Navy's 10th Freedom-class littoral combat ship has entered into active service. Dubbed LCS 19, USS St. Louis is the 22nd littoral combat ship to join the service branch and the seventh vessel to bear the name, the Department of Defense (DoD) said Saturday.

The Navy held a private event to commission the vessel in response to restrictions in line with the COVID-19 pandemic. USS St. Louis is a networked surface combatant platform built to repel littoral mine, diesel submarine and surface threats.

It can rapidly incorporate interchangeable mission packages to perform specific missions. The ship can also work with the MH-60R helicopter to carry out communications relay, combat search and rescue, naval gunfire support, logistics and surveillance operations.

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USSF Implements M-Code Updates to GPS Operational Control System
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USSF Implements M-Code Updates to GPS Operational Control System

The U.S. Space Force has completed military-code early use hardware and software updates to the government's GPS Operational Control System, SpaceRef reported Friday.

The MCEU updates could enable the service branch to support the deployment and testing of modernized user equipment as part of the OCS Architecture Evolution Plan. It could also allow USSF to delegate, upload and monitor M-Code within the global positioning system constellation.

M-Code is designed to optimize warfighters' anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capacities. The MCEU updates will undergo a trial period before the frequency achieves operational acceptance in November 2020.

According to the report, M-Code signals are currently incorporated on 22 GPS Block IIR-M, IIF and III space vehicles.

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NASA Halfway Done With SLS Green Tests
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NASA Halfway Done With SLS Green Tests

NASA has completed the first four green run tests of its Space Launch System rocket's core stage in preparation for four more tests in the series. The effort's assigned team ran the fourth test with gaseous nitrogen and helium as a more efficient alternative to the liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellants intended for the conclusive hot-fire test, the space agency said Saturday.

Checks for leaks and functional issues across engines and propulsion systems took place over a three-week period. The test built on three previous ones that tackled the SLS core stage's computers, navigation systems, avionics and fail-safe systems.

The upcoming fifth test will evaluate the performance of the stage's thrust vector control system that steers the RS-25 engines via actuators. The sixth and seventh tests will rehearse the launch countdown timeline and propellant use.

The eighth, final test will subject the core stage to a fire test with the rocket's four RS-25 engines. NASA will move the core stage to Kennedy Space Center after the eighth test's completion and succeeding preparations.

SLS will carry the Orion spacecraft in support of Artemis, an effort to revive manned space exploration. The manned Artemis mission to the moon is scheduled for 2024.

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Stephen Kitay to Step Down as DoD Space Policy Head
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Stephen Kitay to Step Down as DoD Space Policy Head

Stephen Kitay, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, is slated to leave the public sector after 18 years in government service. Kitay wrote in a LinkedIn post dated Aug. 8th that he intends to step down from his position at the Department of Defense (DoD) to assume an undisclosed role in the private sector.

He has been serving in his current capacity since 2017 and recently helped lead the DoD’s efforts to evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the U.S. space industrial base. He also served as a staff member at the House Committee on Armed Services from 2011 to 2017.

According to Kitay’s letter, his experience as an intelligence professional, military leader and government official enabled him to have a "distinct understanding" of opportunities and challenges in the U.S. space industry.

He noted that he is “truly grateful” for the Trump administration’s initiatives to drive the nation's space leadership.

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DIU’s Michael Brown on DoD’s Need for Budget, Experimentation Flexibility
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DIU’s Michael Brown on DoD’s Need for Budget, Experimentation Flexibility

Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), has said the Department of Defense (DoD) needs to establish trust with Congress to streamline budgeting procedures while promoting flexibility in experimentation, DoD News reported Friday.

Brown told attendees at the Aspen Security Forum that speeding up the current two-year budgeting process will help the DoD adopt innovative technologies while leveraging various contracting authorities.

"But the speed is now all about the budgeting process. And that requires work with Congress,” he said. "We have to develop a relationship that involves trust so that there is more budget flexibility.”

According to Brown, the DoD cannot afford to be behind the private sector in terms of experimentation. The U.S. also needs to scale up efforts in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and cyber autonomy to keep up with adversaries like China, he added. 

"We're not moving in government at an agile pace that reflects the nature of the competition. It's about speed," said Brown. "We need to be quick on our feet to be able to prototype, test in military application, and then have a rapid uptake to get those vendors into production."

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Northrop Grumman Expands Aerospace, Defense Workforce; Katie Qian Quoted
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Northrop Grumman Expands Aerospace, Defense Workforce; Katie Qian Quoted

Northrop Grumman has reported that the company will expand its local workforce as aerospace and defense workforce in Utah and has projected that it will fill more than 600 positions, Northrop Grumman announced on Monday.

“We’re on track to actually add a lot more over the next few months, and that trend is expected to continue over the next few years,” said Katie Qian, director of Air Force programs at Northrop Grumman.. “Being a technical company, we are looking for lots of engineers.”

Northrop Grumman’s company wide expansion has been initiated due to new projects that are now under contract. The program has aimed to create jobs through 2075.

“We are building facilities to support these new projects that are coming on,” Qian added. “For example, we just opened a brand-new facility at Hill Air Force Base to support the ground-based strategic deterrent program. (It) is a large program that supports the Air Force.”

Northrop Grumman will also seek to expand its civil contract with NASA on the Space Launch System. With missile defense and other customers expanding right now, the company will be adding support across the board in multiple business sectors. 

“We are responsible for designing, manufacturing, testing, sustaining solid rocket motors for various Air Force applications — everything from satellite launch vehicles and missiles for strategic deterrence,” Qian concluded. “We are looking at our teams to staff up in multiple positions and we’re going to be hiring like crazy through the rest of the year.”

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an American global aerospace and defense technology company. With over 85,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers.

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Viasat Partners With American Express to Support Small Businesses During COVID-19; Cody Catalena Quoted
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Viasat Partners With American Express to Support Small Businesses During COVID-19; Cody Catalena Quoted

Viasat has partnered with American Express, along with other companies, under the Stand For Small program to support millions of small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Viasat reported on Monday.

“Our goal is to help small businesses thrive in their communities by enabling them to reliably stay online and connected to customers, partners and prospects," Cody Catalena, Viasat's vice president and general manager of Global Business Solutions, commented. 

The Stand for Small initiative will provide support and access to business-critical services, offers, tools and expertise and benefits through a centralized, digital platform. The resources will assist small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and recovery efforts.

Viasat’s partnership will also help business owners reduce operating expenses, manage teams remotely and enhance digital capabilities. Viasat will provide discounted satellite-enabled business internet services to new U.S. small business customers.

The company’s business internet service covers 96 percent of the U.S. population, and offers a variety of unlimited and metered data plans with download speeds up to 100 Mbps. 

Viasat has also implemented a number of initiatives to help U.S. small businesses stay connected during the COVID-19 crisis, including grants to help make their businesses more resilient and the FCC's 'Keep Americans Connected' program. 

The company has also optimized its satellite communications network when businesses turned to work-from-home environments, prioritizing real-time business communications applications, network storage and other business-critical online tools.

"We're proud to participate in the Stand for Small effort, joining American Express and other leading companies, to help small businesses endure and adapt during these difficult times,” added Catalena. 

About Viasat 

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. 

Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea.

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