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open access

Blockchain: Background and Policy Issues

Description: This report explains the technologies which underpin blockchain digital financial ledgers, how blockchain works, potential applications for blockchain, concerns with it, and potential considerations for Congress.
Date: February 28, 2018
Creator: Jaikaran, Chris
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Overview and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), including the agency's organizational structure, characteristics (i.e., the "DARPA model"), and strategic priorities. The report also describes funding trends at DARPA and the Administration's FY2018 budget request. Finally, the report discusses select issues for possible congressional consideration, including the appropriate level of funding for the agency, technology transfer, and the potential role of … more
Date: February 2, 2018
Creator: Gallo, Marcy E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents

Description: This report provides links to cybersecurity legislation in the 112th, 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses. Congress has held cybersecurity hearings every year since 2001. This report also provides links to cybersecurity-related committee hearings in the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses.
Date: February 1, 2018
Creator: Tehan, Rita
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Telehealth Services Proposed for Medicare Part B Reimbursements, 2018: Fact Sheet

Description: This report discusses telehealth services covered under Medicare and describes the five conditions that a telehealth service must meet to be covered and paid for under Medicare Part B, provides an overview of how the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adds telehealth services to Medicare's reimbursable list, and includes a table listing the proposed telehealth services to be added to the CY2018 list for Medicare reimbursement.
Date: November 15, 2017
Creator: Elliott, Victoria L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks

Description: This report introduces the basics of the net neutrality debate over open access to the internet and discusses current court cases and legislation related to the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) 2015 Open Internet Order and its latest proposed revisions.
Date: September 8, 2017
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History and Overview

Description: This report is about the history, role, and function of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) that exists to advise the President on matters related to science, engineering, and technology. It includes charts outlining both historical and current funding for the OSTP and past and present OSTP advisers organized by President.
Date: August 17, 2017
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr. & Shea, Dana A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Inspector General Community Launches Oversight.gov to Increase Accessibility to Reports

Description: This report discusses the launch of oversight.gov by the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and which agencies are currently participating in the beta test. The site allows Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports related to participating agencies to be accessed in one place with keyword searchability.
Date: August 15, 2017
Creator: Francis, Kathryn A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks

Description: This report discusses net neutrality and the concept of open internet access. A decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015 to classify broadband internet service as a telecommunication subjected the industry to further regulation and provoked a debate over what level of regulation should be used for the internet. The FCC in May 2017 announced their intention to modify rules from the 2015 regulations opening the debate once again. Past and current Congressional legislation r… more
Date: August 15, 2017
Creator: Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Update: The Microsoft Ireland Decision: U.S. Appeals Court Rules that ECPA does not Require Internet Service Providers to Produce Electronic Communications Stored Overseas

Description: This report discusses the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the case of "Microsoft Corporation v. United States" where the court ruled that the U.S. could not enforce a subpoena asking Microsoft to retrieve emails stored on a server in Ireland. On June 28, 2017 the United States filed for reversal of the decision through a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court.
Date: June 28, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Broadband Data Privacy and Security: What's Net Neutrality Got To Do With It?

Description: This report is the third in a series discussing the potential impact of the Federal Communication Commission's proposal to reclassify broadband internet access services (BIAS). This report focuses on the regulations of BIAS provider's privacy practices.
Date: June 8, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Science and Technology Issues in the 115th Congress

Description: This report briefly outlines an array of science and technology (S&T) policy issues that may come before the 115th Congress. Given the rapid pace of S&T advancement and its importance in many diverse public policy issues, S&T-related issues not discussed in this report may come before the 115th Congress. The selected issues are grouped into 9 categories: Overarching S&T Policy Issues, Agriculture, Biomedical Research and Development, Defense, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Homeland … more
Date: May 23, 2017
Creator: Gottron, Frank
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Law Enforcement Using and Disclosing Technology Vulnerabilities

Description: This report provides background on law enforcement's use of technology vulnerabilities in criminal investigations. It also provides information on the government's system by which agencies collectively determine whether to maintain or disclose newly discovered vulnerabilities. The report also outlines a range of policy issues that may arise regarding the use and disclosure of vulnerabilities in technology.
Date: April 26, 2017
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Science and Technology Issues in the 115th Congress

Description: This report briefly outlines an array of science and technology (S&T) policy issues that may come before the 115th Congress. It breaks down selected issues into nine categories: overarching issues, agriculture, biomedical research and development, defense, energy, environment and natural resources, homeland security, information technology, physical and material sciences, and space.
Date: March 14, 2017
Creator: Gottron, Frank
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Dark Web

Description: This report illuminates information on the various layers of the Internet, with a particular focus on the Dark Web. It discusses both legitimate and illicit uses of the Dark Web, including how the government may rely upon it. Throughout, the report raises issues that policy makers may consider as they explore means to curb malicious activity online.
Date: March 10, 2017
Creator: Finklea, Kristin
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Digital Trade and U.S. Trade Policy

Description: This report discusses the role of digital trade in the U.S. economy, barriers to digital trade, digital trade agreement provisions, and other selected policy issues.
Date: January 13, 2017
Creator: Fefer, Rachel F.; Akhtar, Shayerah Ilias & Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs

Description: This report provides an overview of the "digital divide," which is a term used to describe a perceived gap between those Americans who use or have access to telecommunications and information technologies and those who do not.
Date: December 28, 2016
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G. & Gilroy, Angele A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the proposed amendment to Rule 41, which would amend the federal search and seizure rules to permit the government to remotely access electronic devices although the location of the device may be unknown. First, the report provides a background on the origin of, and rationale underlying, the proposed amendment and a description of the rule as currently written. Second, it reviews the potential changes made by the proposed amendment and will survey variou… more
Date: September 8, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the proposed amendment to Rule 41. First, it provides a background on the origin of, and rationale underlying, the proposed amendment and a description of the rule as currently written. Second, it reviews the potential changes made by the proposed amendment and will survey various concerns commenters have raised with the proposal. Lastly, this report addresses efforts being made in Congress to alter, delay, or stop this rule change.
Date: June 29, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer

Description: This report provides a brief overview of three major topics related to nanotechnology: federal research and development (R&D) investments under the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI); U.S. international competitiveness in nanotechnology; and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns. It also discusses nanomanufacturing and public attitudes toward, and understanding of, nanotechnology.
Date: June 28, 2016
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Digital Searches and Seizures: Overview of Proposed Amendments to Rule 41 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the proposed amendment to Rule 41, which would amend the federal search and seizure rules to permit the government to remotely access electronic devices although the location of the device may be unknown. First, the report provides a background on the origin of, and rationale underlying, the proposed amendment and a description of the rule as currently written. Second, it reviews the potential changes made by the proposed amendment and will survey variou… more
Date: June 27, 2016
Creator: Thompson, Richard M., II
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Industry Trends, Global Competition, Federal Policy

Description: This report provides background information on the Zika virus, discusses challenges faced by governments and implementing partners in the Latin America and Caribbean region that are attempting to control the ongoing outbreak, and analyzes these above issues in the context of the U.S. Zika response.
Date: June 27, 2016
Creator: Platzer, Michaela D. & Sargent, John F., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): History and Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of the history of science and technology (S&T) advice to the President and discusses selected recurrent issues for Congress regarding Office of Science and Technology Policy's (OSTP) Director, OSTP management and operations, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).
Date: June 22, 2016
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr. & Shea, Dana A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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