President Extends Certain Federal Advisory Committees – 10-4-23

Yesterday, the White House published Executive Order 14109 in the Federal Register (88 FR 68447-68450) that extends the charters for a number of Federal Advisory Committees through September 30^th, 2025. Those FAC’s include:

• Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health; Executive Order 11612, as amended (Department of Labor),

• President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee; Executive Order 12382, as amended (Department of Homeland Security),

• National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee; Executive Order 12829, as amended (National Archives and Records Administration),

• National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Executive Order 13231, as amended (Department of Homeland Security),

• National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board; Space Policy Directive 7, “The United States Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy” (January 15, 2021) (National Aeronautics and Space Administration),

 

CISA Announces CSTAC Meeting – May 16th, 2023

Today, CISA published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (88 FR 24205-24206) for “Notice of President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee Meeting” to be held in Washington, DC on May 16^th, 2023. Portions of the meeting will be open to the public via teleconference.

The agenda for the public portion of the meeting includes:

• A keynote address; and

• A status update on the Addressing the Abuse of Domestic Infrastructure by Foreign Malicious Actors Subcommittee.

Personnel wishing to participate in in the public teleconference should contact NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov by May 9^th, 2023. Written comments on the agenda items (including the classified, non-public portions of the agenda) may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov, Docket # CISA-2023-0007) by May 9^th, 2023

DHS Publishes NSTAC Meeting Notice – 2-21-23

DHS published a meeting notice in today’s Federal Register (88 FR 1242-1243) for a meeting of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) via a conference call. The meeting is open to the public.

The agenda includes:

• Remarks from the administration and CISA leadership on salient national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) and cybersecurity efforts,

• A status update on the NSTAC Addressing the Misuse of Domestic Infrastructure by Foreign Malicious Actors Subcommittee; and

• A deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on a “Strategy for Increasing Trust in the Information and Communications Technology and Services Ecosystem”.

Registration is required to join the conference call. For registration information contact NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov prior to February 16^th. Written comments on the agenda items may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket #: CISA-2022-0017).

CISA Announces NSTAC Meeting – 12-1-22

Yesterday, CISA published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (87 FR 61617-61618) for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). The teleconference meeting will be held on December 1^st, 2022. Portions of the meeting will be closed to the public for national security reasons.

For the public portion of the meeting, the agenda includes:

• A status update on NSTAC recommendations, and

• A deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on a Strategy for Increasing Trust in the Information and Communications Technology and Services Ecosystem (see discussion from previous meeting – pgs 3-4).

Personnel wishing to participate in the teleconference should contact Strategy for Increasing Trust in the Information and Communications Technology and Services Ecosystem NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov by November 11-22-22.

CISA Announces NSTAC Meeting – 8-23-22

Today, CISA published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (87 FR 43281) for a conference call meeting of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). The meeting is open to the public. The agenda includes a deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on Information Technology and Operational Technology Convergence.

Personnel wishing to participate in the conference call (listen only) need to register via NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov no later than August 16^th, 2020. Those wishing to speak at the meeting need to register via the same route. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # CISA-2022-0006).

NSTAC Meeting Scheduled – 5-24-22

 

CISA published a meeting notice in Monday’s (available on line today) Federal Register (87 FR 27655) for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) for May 24^th, 2022. Portions of the meeting will be closed to the public.

The agenda for the public portion of the meeting includes:

• A deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on Enhancing U.S. Leadership in International Communications Technology Standards, and

• A status update from the NSTAC Information Technology and Operational Technology Convergence Subcommittee.

The informal report on IT/OT Convergence Subcommittee at the last NSTAC meeting noted that:

“Mr. Huffard believes the report should scope the challenge that should be addressed and include a series of policy recommendations to strengthen OT cybersecurity for the Federal Government as well as state, local, tribal and territorial governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure. He noted that the study will focus specifically on the convergence of IT/OT for industrial or critical infrastructure, and that it will highlight what is and is not working from government, asset owners, and original equipment manufacturers' perspectives.”

Persons wishing to attend the in-person meeting in Washington, DC need to contact NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov before May 17^th, 2022. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # CISA-2022-0003)

CISA Announces NSTAC Meeting – 11-2-21

Today, CISA published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (86 FR 57437-57438) for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) meeting on November 2^nd, 2021. While the Committee will be meeting in person in Washington, DC, members of the public wanting to participate in the meeting will join the meeting via teleconference.

According to the Notice, the following items will be on the public agenda for the meeting:

• A keynote address on fortifying the Nation's cybersecurity posture,

• An update on Administration actions to NSTAC and joint national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications,

• A deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on Software Assurance in the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain, and

• A status update from the NSTAC Zero-Trust and Trusted Identity Management Subcommittee.

After the above agenda items are completed, the Committee will meet in private to receive a classified intelligence briefing concerning threats to NS/EP communications.

Non-Committee personnel wishing to join the teleconference need to contact NSTAC by email (NSTAC@cisa.dhs.gov) before October 26^th. Public comments on the topics listed above can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket #CISA-2021-0016). Comments should be submitted by October 18^th. More information on the meeting will be available on the NSTAC web site.

EO 14048 Published – Federal Advisory Committee Extension

Yesterday, the White House published Executive Order 14048, Continuance or Reestablishment of Certain Federal Advisory Committees and Amendments to Other Executive Orders. This is a periodic housekeeping document keeping a number of Federal Advisory Committees (established by Executive Order) in operation at least through September 30^th, 2023. This blanket update was last done in September, 2019.

Committees of potential interest here include:

• Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health,

• President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee,

• National Infrastructure Advisory Council, and

• National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board.

Section 5 of the EO also amends EO 12382, making changes regarding the establishment of NSTAC.

DHS Announces NSTAC Meeting – 5-11-16

Today the Department of Homeland Security published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 24624-24625) for a public meeting of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) to be held in Santa Clara, CA on May 11^th, 2016. The meeting will be web cast.

The agenda includes:

• A panel discussion with several notable industry technology leaders on emergent

information and communications technologies (ICT) in the private

sector;

• A panel discussion with senior government officials on the

government's efforts to adopt emergent ICT in support of its NS/EP

functions.

• An update on the NSTAC Emerging Technologies Strategic Vision Subcommittee's study

of emerging ICT;

• A deliberation and vote on the NSTAC Report to the President on Big Data Analytics; and

• The Department of Homeland Security will provide NSTAC members with an update of the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015.

The public is invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for public comments at the meeting and written comments may be submitted to NSTAC. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2016-0021).

NSTAC Meeting to Look at National Cyber Response

Today DHS published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 43058-43059) concerning a public teleconference of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) on August 13^th, 2014. Briefing materials for the meeting will be available on the NSTAC web site on August 1^st.

The current agenda includes reviews of the status of two on-going NSTAC studies:

• The needs, benefits, and operational efficacy of a national Information and Communications Technology mobilization capability in the face of a cyber-related event of national significance.

• The cybersecurity implications of the Internet of Things as it relates to national security and emergency preparedness.

Interestingly there is nothing in the mobilization capability scoping document that would seem to indicate that NSTAC is considering anything beyond IT type cyber incidents. While this is a telecommunications advisory committee, this still seems to be extremely short sighted.

Public comments on the above topics are being solicited by NSTAC. People wishing to make live comments on the teleconference need to register in advance. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2014-0032).

President’s NSTAC to Look at Cybersecurity

Today the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) published a public meeting notice in today’s Federal Register (78 FR 63232) for a meeting of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) on November 20^th, 2013. The meeting will be open to the public.

According to the notice the agenda will include:

• A work status review from the Industrial Internet Subcommittee;

• A briefing on the current threat environment;

• An FCC briefing on its cybersecurity activities;

• An NIST lead round-table discussion of the Preliminary Cybersecurity Framework.

A short public comment period will take place during the meeting; advance registration is required (email sue.daage@hq.dhs.gov) . Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2013-0057).

NPPD Updated NSTAC Meeting Notice

Today the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate published an update to their recent National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) meeting notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 29145). The update changes the date by which written comments on the agenda items must be submitted from the previously reported May 13^th, 2013 to May 21^st, 2013.

NPPD Announces NSTAC Meeting – 5-22-13

Today the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 28237-28238) concerning an upcoming meeting of the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). Portions of the May 22^nd meeting in Washington, D.C. will be closed to the public.

Agenda

The Committee will receive briefings on:

• The Federal Government's current research and development priorities as they relate to cybersecurity and national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications;

• The committee's progress regarding its report on secure government communications;

• The progress of the Government's implementation of NSTAC recommendations from the 2012 NSTAC Report to the President on Cloud Computing; and

• Cybersecurity threats (classified/closed).

The agenda also includes Committee discussions about:

• The current implementation status of the national public safety broadband network (NPSBN), including current initiatives underway with the First Network Authority Board;

• The Committee report, NSTAC Report to the President on the National Security and Emergency Preparedness Implications of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network; and

• Future studies based on Government's security priorities and perceived vulnerabilities (classified/closed).

Late Notice

NPPD is seven days shy (the notice says 3-days, but they expected this to be published last Friday) of their legal requirement to normally provide 15-day notice of the meeting of a federal advisory committee. They note that this is “due to the immediate need for NSTAC's members to receive a cyber-threat briefing”. The timing of this notice may indicate that the referenced cyber-threat may have something to do with the energy sector control system threat I mentioned Sunday.

Interestingly, according to the NSTAC web site, the classified portion of this meeting will be held in the White House Situation Room. Either the private sector members of the Committee are being seriously schmoozed, or this briefing is really serious; this is Washington, it could be either.

Public Comments

There will be a 30-minute public comment period midway through the public afternoon session of the meeting. People wishing to make a presentation (limited to 3 minutes) during that period need to contact  Helen Jackson (703-235-5321) by COB on May 15^th (tomorrow???) to assure a place in the cue. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2013-0022) though a time machine will be required as they were required to be submitted no later than yesterday.

NSTAC Teleconference Notice

Today the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) published a notice in today’s Federal Register (77 FR 6813) announcing that they would be holding a public teleconference on February 28^th, 2012.

The meeting will include:

• A quarterly update on NSTAC Recommendations;

• An update on the Cloud Computing Subcommittee; and

• An update on the National Public Safety Broadband Network scoping.

The NSTAC invites the public to participate in this teleconference. Access to the conference bridge may be obtained by contacting Ms. Deirdre Gallop-Anderson (deirdre.gallop-anderson@dhs.gov) by February 21^st.  The intention to make an oral statement during the teleconference (3 minute limit) must be registered with Ms. Gallop-Anderson at that time. Written comments on the topics to be discussed may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2012-0004) by March 14^th, 2012.

NSTAC Teleconference 9-8-11

The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) published a notice in today’s Federal Register (76 FR 52672) that they would be holding a public teleconference on September 8^th. Topics to be addressed include:

• An update on the the NSTAC's Cloud Computing Subcommittee's recent work; and

• A tasking from the Executive Office of the President regarding the National Public Safety Broadband Network.

According to the notice the Committee is soliciting “public comment on the issues to be considered by the committee”. This appears to be a pro forma solicitation as there is no information available on the NSTAC’s web site on the Cloud Computing Subcommittee much less it’s work. I understand why there is no information about the new tasking; it hasn’t been received yet; but some indication of the Subcommittee’s scope of examination about ‘Cloud Computing’ would be helpful.

Of course, if the aim is to avoid public scrutiny or participation, then obfuscation of this sort really is appropriate.

There will be an opportunity for public oral comments during the teleconference; registration of intent to make an oral presentation is required. Written comments to be considered by the Committee may be submitted via email to NSTAC@hq.dhs.gov; the docket number (DHS-2011-0064) needs to be included on the subject line.

NSTAC Teleconference 06-10-10

DHS posted a notice in today’s Federal Register that the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will be holding a teleconference on June 10th, 2010 that will be open to the public. The NSTAC advises the President on issues and problems related to implementing national security and emergency preparedness telecommunications policy. The NSTAC Principals will deliberate and vote on comments on the draft National Strategy for Secure Online Transactions. Anyone wishing to submit comments on this action can post them on www.Regulations.gov (Docket #: NCS-2010-0002). Anyone wishing to access the teleconference should contact Ms. Sue Daage at (703) 235-4964 or by e-mail at sue.daage@dhs.gov by 5:00 p.m. June 3, 2010.