Simington Talks Cyber Trust Mark, Space and Spectrum Coordination at ITI Event
FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington expects an extension of the categories of equipment that can receive the cyber trust mark, a more empowered NTIA under the current administration, and an FCC “one-stop shop” for space company permitting, he said Wednesday at the Information Technology Industry Council’s Intersect 2025 summit. “I think the emphasis that you're going to see within the commission specifically is an emphasis on greatly streamlining the licensing procedure,” he said. The FCC is “internally working on” creating “some sort of a one-stop shop where we can consolidate the process of getting to space and creating an interface that's usable” for a wide variety of companies. He said it’s not clear if that one-stop shop would ultimately be part of the FCC, but the agency is taking on the job of “figuring it out.”
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On cybersecurity, Simington said requirements remain in effect from the Joe Biden Administration for the U.S. government to procure equipment that qualifies for the cyber trust mark by 2027. Since the trust mark program applies to IoT devices only, that could be difficult to implement, he said. “I'm sure there's some number of smart fridges and whatnot that we buy, but it's probably not a major purchase in a procurement category.” It’s not clear if those procurement provisions will stay in effect, but if they do it could result in extensions of the type of equipment that qualifies for the cyber trust mark, Simington said.
On spectrum authority, Simington said he expects that NTIA will now take a firmer hand when federal agencies disagree over spectrum usage. Simington is a former NTIA official, and his former chief of staff Adam Cassady is serving as acting NTIA administrator. “I think the present NTIA is likely to feel itself much more empowered to push back on the federal sector." The best way to apportion spectrum is a consensus among NTIA, the FCC and NTIA stakeholders. “You don't get anywhere in Washington, frankly, by just pitting your political weight against that of the Defense Department,” he said, adding, “This should not be primarily a political slugging match.”