Upcoming event

Security challenges are commonly cited as an area of concern when discussing the shift of mobile networks to disaggregated or “open” architectures. While generic security risks exist regardless of the underlying network architecture, 5G and Open RAN will enable new capabilities that can improve security by allowing operators the ability to monitor, detect, prevent, and respond to threats quickly. 

A virtual discussion about the role of Open RAN Security in 5G, presented by the AT&T Policy Forum. We will address questions including: 

There is no lack of appetite for a U.S. federal data privacy law—whether from consumers, businesses, regulators or national security experts. Uncertainty over its details and enforcement, however, has stalled the legislation for years. But this delay has also produced critical research and progress, which has moved the United States closer to the necessary solutions for a federal privacy law.

A timely and important discussion with Sindy Benavides, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on some of the best ideas for closing the digital divide that LULAC has surfaced among its members, including lessons learned from prior attempts to increase broadband adoption with investments from the federal government.  

The Technological Advisory Council will hold its first meeting via video conference and will be available to the public via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/live 

Policy experts break down the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act statute. What are the key elements of this law? What policy decisions are NTIA and the States left to make? What are the requirements of receiving these funds? We will dive into next steps and answer questions that you may have about this historic program.

The webinar panel will include:

What is the state-of-the-art in wireless broadband Internet? What are the differences between wireless broadband and other wireless technologies like 4G/5G/LTE cellular mobile and satellite services? Is wireless as capacious, reliable, secure, sustainable, and scalable as fiber wireline solutions? What is the difference between licensed and unlicensed spectrum?

The committee will consider two bills:

1. S. 2992, American Innovation and Choice Online Act (Klobuchar, Grassley, Durbin, Graham, Blumenthal, Kennedy, Booker, Hirono, Hawley)
2. S. 2710, Open App Markets Act (Blumenthal, Blackburn, Klobuchar, Booker, Graham, Kennedy, Hirono, Hawley, Durbin)

Hear from Ernesto Falcon, Senior Legislative Counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes 21st century fiber access for all Americans in its policy work. Ernesto is a lead researcher and advocate that was deeply involved in pushing California to promote universal fiber infrastructure in its newest broadband program.

A discussion on the calls to revise the "broker" language in the signed Infrastructure Bill that was recently signed into law.

Guest Speakers Include:

- Tim Massad, Research Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School [Bio]

- Marta Belcher, Chair, Filecoin Foundation [Bio]

Scott D. Woods is the Director of the Office of Minority Broadband Initiatives in NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. He also serves as a principal liaison between the BroadbandUSA and OIGC program offices and key strategic partners and external stakeholder groups, including representatives from state and local governments, telecommunications companies, for-profit and non-profit corporations, and colleges/universities.