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FCC Holds Public Consultation on Proposed Robocall, Robotext Rules
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FCC Holds Public Consultation on Proposed Robocall, Robotext Rules

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on its proposed rules that would protect consumers from unwanted and illegal telephone calls and texts generated by artificial intelligence.

A notice of proposed rulemaking, adopted at a recent commissioners meeting, would require the people behind robocalls and robotexts to disclose to consumers that AI technologies are used to resemble human voice or generate call and message content, the FCC said Thursday.

According to the agency, it is seeking comments to ensure the rules keep pace with the fast-developing changes in AI technologies and do not hinder the potential benefits that AI technologies can offer, including making telecommunications more readily accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Feedback on the proposed rulemaking will be accepted within 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

The agency made the proposal amid increasing complaints regarding robocalls and robotexts.

Earlier in 2024, residents in New Hampshire received AI-generated pre-recorded voice calls impersonating President Joe Biden, urging them to abstain from voting. Following the incident, the FCC proposed a $2 million fine on the telecom carrier that distributed the calls and a $6 million fine on the party responsible for the scam calls.

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CISA’s Matt House Discusses CDM Shift Toward Cloud
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CISA’s Matt House Discusses CDM Shift Toward Cloud

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency‘s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program has historically focused on monitoring network cyber threats but is now turning its attention to cloud computing services, although according to CDM Program Manager Matt House, the shift is not without it challenges, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

House said during a recent episode of the Ask the CIO podcast that CDM’s cybersecurity tools are not directly applicable to platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service.

The CISA official noted, however, that infrastructure-as-a-service is “a logical, if not, concrete extension of what we’re doing for traditional assets,” so CDM will begin working on that and then apply lessons learned to PaaS and SaaS.

House also said that existing CDM tools “are often evolving right in place” and possess “a lot of richness that we can still tap.” So, although different cloud subclasses may require the use of varying tools and capabilities, tapping into or augmenting existing ones may be preferable to developing new solutions from scratch.

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Gen. Stephen Whiting: Missile Defeat Effects, Space Fires Among SPACECOM’s Key Priority Investments
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Gen. Stephen Whiting: Missile Defeat Effects, Space Fires Among SPACECOM’s Key Priority Investments

Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said missile defeat effects, space fires, assured telemetry, tracking and commanding architecture and space systems cyber defense capabilities are some of SPACECOM’s key priority investment areas cited in its fiscal year 2027 Integrated Priority List, the command reported Thursday.

“Missile Defeat Effects will significantly enhance our ability to defeat trans-regional ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats, as well as air-launched or ground-launched, direct ascent threats,” Whiting said Tuesday during his speech at a symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.

“Missile Defeat Effects involve new and innovative approaches, across all domains, which evolve beyond point solutions and one versus one missile interceptors. The services and the Missile Defense Agency are all actively working on ways to defeat an ever-increasing myriad of threats,” he added.

The general also mentioned some of his priorities for 2040 and beyond, including the need to sustain maneuver through dynamic space operations technologies and the development and deployment of a multilayered missile defense architecture.

“Dynamic Space Operations is based on the idea that, in a future fight, some of our assets in space must be able to do what our terrestrial assets do all the time—maneuver and sustain themselves,” Whiting said.

”Doing so will allow our space-based capabilities to execute their mission until the objectives are met, not until they run out of the gas they launched with,” the commander noted.

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HHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Regulation Change on Health IT Procurement
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HHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Regulation Change on Health IT Procurement

The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a rule that would update requirements under the Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation — a.k.a. HHSAR — concerning the procurement of health IT.

The proposed rule would align the health IT procurement requirements with the standards and implementation specifications that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology adopted under section 3004 of the Public Health Service Act, in line with relevant provisions within the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, according to a notice posted Friday on the Federal Register.

Specifically, the proposal adds a new subpart to HHSAR Part 339, which offers definitions and policy concerning health information technology. The subpart also prescribes a new clause, as articulated in a revision of HHSAR Part 352, implementing the requirements of the HITECH Act regarding the procurement of health IT and the use of such technologies in contracts and agreements with healthcare providers, health plans or health insurance issuers.

These changes seek to put into effect policies put forward by the secretary of health and human services that seek to ensure the effective use of health IT systems as well as their interoperability.

HHS is calling on the public to provide feedback on the changes to the HHSAR. Interested parties have until Oct. 8 to comment.

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DIU Offers Opportunities for GSA Industry Partners to Develop Tech Platforms for National Security Applications
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DIU Offers Opportunities for GSA Industry Partners to Develop Tech Platforms for National Security Applications

The General Services Administration has released a document informing GSA industry partners that they can participate in the Defense Innovation Unit’s competitive Commercial Solutions Opening process and contribute modernized platforms to support warfighters and help address critical national security challenges.

GSA said Thursday DIU not only focuses on prototyping efforts but also provides companies an opportunity to demonstrate the “uniqueness and novelty” and applicability of their tech platforms to meet defense requirements.

According to the agency, there are four potential pathways that could be pursued by DIU commercial prototype partners.

The pathways are developing partnership agreements as subcontractors or through joint ventures with companies on GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule—or MAS—program; securing reseller agreements with companies on MAS programs; considering GSA’s governmentwide acquisition contracts during the program’s open periods; and pursuing and possibly obtaining a GSA MAS contract.

NobleReach Unveils Inaugural Scholars Cohort
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NobleReach Unveils Inaugural Scholars Cohort

The NobleReach Foundation has unveiled an inaugural cohort of 19 professionals who have earned competitive placement at various public and private sector entities.

The NobleReach Scholars will serve in fully compensated roles while gaining knowledge in five primary areas, namely, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, business process innovation and materials manufacturing, the nonprofit organization announced Wednesday.

Arun Gupta, NobleReach CEO, said, “The scholars program aims to inspire a lifelong passion for public service among tomorrow’s leading technologists, scientists and entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers.”

“Wherever their journeys take them – to government, the private sector or academia – NobleReach Scholars will always be part of a community united in their dedication to driving positive entrepreneurial change for societal impact,” Gupta added.

Chosen among hundreds of candidates from 90 universities globally, NobleReach scholars have now been placed at eight federal agencies or industry organizations like Anduril and Ozark, working on programs related to national defense, economy, climate and health.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency and a 2024 Wash100 recipient, said the nation must put the young minds of today in operational environments so they can address the challenges of tomorrow.

“The NobleReach Scholars program places incredibly talented young professionals alongside government employees to grow the future workforce needed to maintain the United States’ global advantage,” Easterly stated.

NobleReach Scholars will receive mentorship from government and commercial leaders and multidisciplinary programming from goal-oriented industry partners.

Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations at the U.S. Air Force and a 2022 Wash100 awardee, said, “The NobleReach Scholars program places incredibly talented young professionals alongside government employees to grow the future workforce needed to maintain the United States’ global advantage.”

Applications for the 2025 NobleReach Scholars program will open on Sept. 30.

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William LaPlante: Competitive Advantage Pathfinders Could Help DOD Maintain Military Superiority
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William LaPlante: Competitive Advantage Pathfinders Could Help DOD Maintain Military Superiority

William LaPlante, under secretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said advancing the use of the Competitive Advantage Pathfinders, or CAP, process could enable DOD to accelerate the transition of defense capabilities to program-of-record status and into the production phase.

In a commentary published Wednesday in National Defense Magazine, LaPlante wrote that his office runs the CAP process under the newly established Acquisition Integration and Interoperability Office.

“The goal is to flip the equation on process improvement: identify technology potentially useful to multiple military services stuck somewhere in or among the stool/triangle’s three legs,” he noted.

According to the defense acquisition executive, CAPs could help speed up capability development and bridge the “valley of death” by “getting representatives — and buy-in — from the resources, requirements and acquisition communities (the legs of the stool/triangle) together to address whatever might be the cause of the delay, be it funding, contract rules or inter-service concurrence.”

“Having resolved one issue, they move onto the next challenge,” LaPlante added.

In this article, the defense under secretary discussed how the CAP process could enable a service branch to adapt and transition a capability to another military branch without requiring a new budget cycle or program.

“Through CAPs, we can vastly accelerate these processes, turning what was a lethal valley into a flatter — though still bumpy — plain, and thus help secure military advantage for the next generation,” LaPlante stated.

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DARPA’s Greg Avicola Says NOMARS Is Innovating for Acquisition & Tech
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DARPA’s Greg Avicola Says NOMARS Is Innovating for Acquisition & Tech

The No Mariners Required Ship, or NOMARS, program is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s ambitious project to develop and create a medium unmanned surface vessel that’s able to perform missions, conduct self-maintenance and carry a large payload all without a single human onboard.

Serco is currently working on the Defiant testbed under contract to DARPA with the goal of making this dream happen. The War Zone reports that the ship will be in the water for testing by January 2025.

Obviously, such a forward-thinking technology requires a number of unorthodox and boundary-shattering technical advancements — new configurations of power generation, propulsion, control schemes and machinery line-up. But according to DARPA’s Dr. Greg Avicola, program manager in the Tactical Technology Office, the program’s tech requirements necessitate a rethinking of the way the DOD acquires its tools.

“DARPA’s goal on the NOMARS program is not only to push the technology inside the Uncrewed Surface Vessel forward for future Navy applications, but also to rethink acquisition, logistics and maintenance infrastructure that keeps a USV fleet operational, paving a vision for a larger number of unmanned ships than currently imagined,” Avicola told ExecutiveGov.

Avicola spoke to us in advance of his appearance at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Navy Summit, where he’ll speak on a panel about the ways the Navy is incorporating autonomous systems into its fleets. You can bet he’ll be talking about NOMARS specifically and the opportunities it’s opening up for industry down the line — don’t miss out on this prime GovCon networking opportunity; register now!

DARPA’s Greg Avicola Says NOMARS Is Innovating for Acquisition & Tech
ExecutiveGov: Your Guide to the Federal Landscape
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ExecutiveGov: Your Guide to the Federal Landscape

The federal landscape is constantly evolving. With new federal policies and regulations, new offices, shifting priorities and ever-changing budgets, it can be hard to keep up with what’s going on in the U.S. government. But ExecutiveGov makes it easy!

What Is ExecutiveGov?

ExecutiveGov is a government contracting-focused news publication from GovCon’s leading media company, Executive Mosaic. ExecutiveGov has its finger on the pulse of the public sector — bringing you news on the macro trends, policy decisions and developments that directly affect how the government buys goods and services from the private sector. 

Senior GovCon executives and government officials alike rely on ExecutiveGov to keep them up-to-date on the latest news, funding opportunities, strategies and developments shaping the public sector. ExecutiveGov publishes at 5 p.m. ET every day, giving you a comprehensive summary of the day’s events as you wrap up your work day.

Subscribe to ExecutiveGov’s newsletter, GovCon Daily, on our homepage, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay in-the-know about important federal news. 

ExecutiveGov’s Coverage Areas

Federal News

The news coming out of the federal government significantly shapes how government contractors operate and do business with the government. At ExecutiveGov, we bring you the important news and the analysis you need to understand what it means on a broader scale. Take a look at the latest news regarding:

Government and Military Appointments & Nominations

The government is always establishing new offices, standing up new agency divisions and even creating new military branches. ExecutiveGov reports on the executive shifts within the federal government, such as nominations, confirmations and appointments to government and military leadership positions. Check out the latest government exec moves from ExecutiveGov to stay updated on the leaders of GovCon.

Government Policies & Regulations

As new technologies, threats and best practices emerge, the federal government is constantly adapting to and embracing changes. ExecutiveGov brings you the information you need on new federal policies, changing regulations and updated standards within the government landscape. 

Federal Acquisition & Procurement News

How are contracting regulations changing GovCon business? What kinds of technologies and services are government agencies looking for? How is new legislation impacting contracting opportunities? All these questions and more can be answered under the Acquisition & Procurement section on the ExecutiveGov website. 

About Executive Mosaic

ExecutiveGov’s parent company, Executive Mosaic, is the premier events, media and membership organization in the GovCon market. Founded in 2002 by Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic leader in connecting, promoting and branding executives of consequence through exclusive peer networking events and media. 

ExecutiveGov’s Sister Publications

Executive Mosaic’s portfolio of GovCon news properties includes four other publications:

GovCon Wire

Executive Mosaic’s morning publication, GovCon Wire brings you the most important news of the morning at 6 a.m. ET every day. Covering major executive moves, M&A activity, government contract awards and industry news, GovCon Wire is Executive Mosaic’s flagship publication. 

ExecutiveBiz

ExecutiveBiz is Executive Mosaic’s midday publication, covering the executive-level business activity that drives the GovCon industry. Through executive interviews, policy spotlights and news stories on corporate activity, ExecutiveBiz highlights how GovCon leaders are positioning their businesses to win.

GovConExec International

GovCon Exec International opens up Executive Mosaic’s scope to the global GovCon landscape, bringing you news from all over the world. Global partnerships are becoming increasingly critical to the U.S., and the launch of GCEI reflects Executive Mosaic’s commitment to keeping its readers updated on the latest news and trends in the GovCon space.

GovCon Index

GovCon Index is the first ever tracker of the GovCon market’s financial health. GovCon Index gives you the financial tools and reporting you need to understand where the GovCon market is heading.

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NASA, CU Boulder LASP to Expand Space Weather Research Under Agreement
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NASA, CU Boulder LASP to Expand Space Weather Research Under Agreement

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics have agreed to expand collaboration on space weather research and modeling work.

Under the Space Act Agreement, NASA said Monday the Goddard Center and LASP will mature and advance miniaturization of instruments for space weather research, integrate space weather instruments and packages into satellites as hosted payloads and explore joint work related to “space weather research to operations.”

The two institutions also agreed to address key aspects of space weather policy and define best practices for the development of mission proposals.

“Space weather touches all aspects of life, from our power grid to space-based assets that are susceptible to space weather events,” said Makenzie Lystrup, director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“This agreement today formalizes a long-standing collaboration with LASP essential to expanding space weather applications that protect ground- and space-based assets, not to mention our astronauts preparing to explore deeper into space to the Moon and beyond,” she added.

Lystrup and LASP Director Daniel Baker signed the agreement Monday.

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