U.S. agencies remain on high alert for Russian cyberthreats, despite no major attacks on the U.S. homeland during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Department of Homeland Security and OMB officials told the House Cybersecurity Subcommittee during a hearing Tuesday. Federal chief information officers have been convening meetings since November on protective measures, and they remain in an “elevated state,” said Christopher DeRusha, deputy national cyber director-federal cybersecurity, Office of the National Cyber Director. It was a “paramount concern” well before the Russian invasion, said Eric Goldstein, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's executive assistant director-cybersecurity: The U.S. hasn’t seen any “damaging attacks,” but agencies remain in a posture of “heightened risk” and are focused on sharing information as quickly as possible.
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
U.S. and EU collaboration in the Trade & Technology Council remains strong and has helped the regions coordinate actions against Russia, officials said Monday. The second TTC meeting, which took place May 15-16 in France, had several main outcomes, said the European Commission. Among them were a pact to make supply chains more resilient and an agreement to strengthen collaboration on swift and aligned export controls on advanced technologies such as aerospace and cyber-surveillance to undermine Russian attempts to boost industrial and military capabilities. It's in the interests of both parties to cooperate on all aspects of supply chains, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said at a briefing: "A certain level of coordination" aligned to TTC's goal of expanding the ecosystem is good for both sides. Other areas where the council has had progress include platform governance, where the EU and U.S. reaffirmed support for an open, global, interoperable, secure internet in line with their Declaration for the Future of Internet (see 2204280043); and trade barriers, where they will consider ways to increase trans-Atlantic trade and investment, and coordinate efforts to address non-market policies. Raimondo noted the group has had positive results in its first eight months, allowing it to push back against Russia. Because of the council's work on export controls, she said, the EU and U.S. were able to cut Russia off from all the advanced technology it needs to advance its operations, and they have now agreed to align technological standards in a way that will advance democratic values. The discussion of nonmarket economies such as China's has been an essential part of the partners' trade collaboration in the TTC, said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The council began by looking at nonmarket practices that involve state influence on a market economy but has now expanded its view to include Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That's a nonmarket decision that affects the entire world, Tai added. In less than a year, the "TTC has become a pillar of transatlantic cooperation," said President Joe Biden and EC President Ursula von der Leyen. In addition to the measures announced, the parties should use the council "to ensure new regulations are implemented in a non-discriminatory, transparent manner that limits unintended consequences," said the Computer & Communications Industry Association.
The FCC is “forecasting” it will have its revised broadband coverage data maps “possibly” in November, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during a Wednesday Senate Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee hearing. Raimondo urged swift conference committee action to marry elements of the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260). She also touted her role in drumming up international support for U.S.-backed ITU secretary-general candidate Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin remains the front-runner to be elected ITU secretary-general at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which starts Sept. 26, but industry officials who have been trying to count votes say nothing is guaranteed. Some warned of "ripple effects" if Russian nominee Rashid Ismailov is elected, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The vote comes a year ahead of the next World Radiocommunications Conference.
House Commerce Committee leaders wrote President Joe Biden Monday in support of U.S.-backed ITU secretary-general candidate Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Her prospects of winning against Russian nominee Rashid Ismailov during the ITU’s September plenipotentiary conference have improved amid international criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (see 2203020068). Bogdan-Martin in her current role as ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau director “has focused on closing the digital divide, school connectivity, and developing digital skills and cyber safety,” said House Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and leaders of the Communications Subcommittee in a letter to Biden. “Further, Ms. Bogdan-Martin has excelled in forming new partnerships between the ITU and the private sector, thereby bringing more resources to the ITU’s important development efforts.” The lawmakers noted concerns about Ismailov’s candidacy because he’s “Russia’s former Deputy Minister for Communications and Mass Media and a former Huawei executive. Russian citizenship in and of itself is not of concern, but former participation in" Russian President Vladimir Putin's "regime is alarming. Russia’s disregard for international law as evidenced by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the country’s continued support of cyber criminals, should make it clear to all ITU Member States that Russia’s preferred candidate is unworthy of a position demanding international cooperation and consensus building.”
The Department of Homeland Security’s disinformation board isn’t the “truth police,” Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told lawmakers Wednesday. The board’s goal is to establish long overdue standards for DHS’ disinformation campaigns to protect speech, privacy and civil liberties, he told the Senate Homeland Security Committee during a hearing (see 2205030065).
Eutelsat, Mavenir and other telecom companies continuing to operate in Russia "communicate a tacit disregard for the oppression of Ukrainians and callous desire to profit from the warmongering Russian regime despite the costs," blogged Strand Communications Saturday. It said Eutelsat has options, including ending service in Russia, asking U.S. and E.U. leaders to compel it to do so, or continuing to provide connectivity there, but also transmitting non-Russian media channels. Eutelsat emailed that it is in compliance with current international sanctions "and remains attentive to their potential evolution in coordination with the competent authorities." It said many international channels remain available for Russian viewers in free-to-air packages. Eutelsat said it implemented the March 1 E.U. Council Regulation suspending broadcast of Russia Today.
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America wants the FCC to designate the license of a Reston, Virginia, translator for hearing over the station’s broadcasting of content from Russian-sponsored news channel Radio Sputnik, said a petition filed Thursday. The Ukrainian American citizens’ group filed two previous petitions targeting stations owned by Arthur and Yvonne Liu (see 2204060070). The translator, owned by retired Womble Bond broadcast attorney John Garziglia, rebroadcasts the signal from the Lius’ station WZHF(AM) Columbia Heights, Maryland. “By broadcasting paid Russian propaganda, Garziglia is aiding and abetting Russia’s continuing war crimes in Ukraine,” said the petition. “It is unlikely that torture, mass murder or the rape of children troubles Garziglia’s sleep. No doubt, he falls asleep counting the money Russia pays him to broadcast its agitprop.” First Amendment and broadcast attorneys told us it's unlikely the FCC would revoke the license of a station over its content (see 2203230054). The petition also asks the FCC to investigate whether Garziglia is evading sanctions against Russia to continue collecting money for the broadcasts. “If Garziglia is working with the Russian government to evade the sanctions, it is not only against the law, but for the purposes of this petition, raises serious questions as to his character qualification as an FCC licensee,” the petition said. Garziglia didn’t comment on this petition, but after NAB urged broadcasters to cease airing Russian-sponsored content in March, he said blocking his broadcast would violate the First Amendment and the station had value because it communicates the Russian point of view.
The U.S. joined more than 60 countries in a shared commitment to an open, inclusive, interoperable internet that respects basic human rights, they said Thursday. The Declaration for the Future of the Internet is a response to “rising digital authoritarianism” in countries like Russia and China, White House officials said during a press call Wednesday, citing repression of freedom of expression, news censorship, election interference and disinformation. The EU, Ukraine, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia were among those endorsing the declaration. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo praised the declaration and applauded President Joe Biden’s goal of connecting “every single American to high-speed internet.” The declaration is “a timely opportunity to recommit to a shared vision of the global Internet as an open platform for opportunity, innovation, and understanding,” said NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson. Computer and Communications Industry Association President Matt Schruers said “a collaborative approach among like-minded democratic countries is needed to combat growing government threats to the open Internet,” and the tech sector is ready for partnership. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation raised concerns about opening the door for the EU to export its “innovation-limiting policy regime.” The declaration “should be scaled back considerably to address what are principally cross-border issues, such as cybersecurity, cross-border data flows and data localization,” as well as a commitment to trustworthy infrastructure and nondiscrimination, said Senior Policy Analyst Ashley Johnson.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and some Senate Commerce Committee members used a Wednesday hearing on the Commerce Department's FY 2023 budget goals (see 2204210059) as a platform to press Congress to quickly reach agreement marrying elements of the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act (HR-4521) and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S-1260). Committee members also pressed Raimondo on NTIA’s plans for distributing $48 billion in broadband money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and how to improve interagency spectrum coordination.