Short Takes – 3-1-24

Senator demands telecom cybersecurity standards overhaul to curb abuses. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “The Senator stated in his letter that surveillance technology companies sell access to phone hacking services and foreign government customers can enter any phone number and track it, no matter where it is in the world.”

California rains resurrect a long-dead lake in dry Death Valley. WashingtonPost.com article. Pull quote: ““There’s going to be a lot of firsts in our lifetime. The majority are going to be kind of terrifying, and a handful of them — like this — are going to be pretty extraordinary,” Voehl said, slowly drifting across the fleeting lake. “I feel we have an obligation to revel in them as deeply, as often and in as many places as we can when we get these opportunities. Frankly, that’s the best nourishment.””

Notice of Request for Information (RFI) Related to DOE's Responsibilities on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. Federal Register DOE request for comments. Summary: “The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking information to assist in carrying out certain responsibilities under an Executive order (E.O.) titled “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence” issued on October 30, 2023. Among other things, the E.O. directs DOE to issue a public report within 180 days of the E.O. “describing the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve planning, permitting, investment, and operations for electric grid infrastructure and to enable the provision of clean, affordable, reliable, resilient, and secure electric power to all Americans.” DOE is soliciting information on one or more of the topics outlined in this RFI to address in the public report. The information provided in response to this RFI will inform the preparation of that report.” Comments due April 1^st 2024.

Notice of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Meeting. Federal Register CISA meeting notice. Agenda: “The CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET to discuss current CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee activities. The open session will last from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET and will include: (1) a period for public comment, and (2) an update on subcommittee progress.”

FRA, STB leaders raise red flags over UP worker furloughs. ProgressiveRailroading.com article. Pull quote: “"But one standout failure of progress was at UP," he [STB Chairman Martin Oberman] said. “During 2022, UP—alone among the railroads—was subject to two emergency service orders—the first issued by the STB in over 10 years. UP also instituted a massive upsurge of 1,100 embargoes annually—labeling them congestion embargoes—a legal animal which in my opinion, does not exist, except possibly when the congestion is entirely the fault of the rail customer."”