Congressional Research Service Reports - 66 Matching Results
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- Internet: An Overview of Key Technology Policy Issues Affecting Its Use and Growth
- No Description Available.
- Personal Data Security Breaches: Context and Incident Summaries
- Report on personal data security breaches, including examples, relevant laws, considered legislation, and more.
- U.S. Space Programs: Civilian, Military, and Commercial
- This report includes information regarding various United States space programs.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy
- This report includes discussion over the debate over government policy regarding industrial competitiveness and technological advancement. Technology and competitiveness, legislative initiatives, and various approaches are among topics discussed in this report.
- Internet Development and Information Control in the People's Republic of China
- Since its founding in 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has exerted great effort in manipulating the flow of information and prohibiting the dissemination of viewpoints that criticize the government or stray from the official Communist party view. The introduction of Internet technology in the mid-1990’s presented a challenge to government control over news sources, and by extension, over public opinion. While the Internet has developed rapidly, broadened access to news, and facilitated mass communications in China, many forms of expression online, as in other mass media, are still significantly stifled. This report discusses the history of this issue and examines the U.S.'s response.
- Federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines: Summary and Analysis of Issues
- This report begins with a discussion of the historical context of the VVSG, followed by a summary of the guidelines and a discussion of each of the issues identified above. However, there are many specific issues, such as whether wireless communications should be permitted, that are not covered here. The report also briefly summarizes relevant legislative proposals in the 109th Congress
- Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Terrorist Capabilities for Cyberattack: Overview and Policy Issues
- No Description Available.
- Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation
- Internet privacy issues generally encompass two types of concerns. One is the collection of personally identifiable information (PII) by website operators from visitors to government and commercial websites, or by software that is surreptitiously installed on a user’s computer (“spyware”) and transmits the information to someone else. The other is the monitoring of electronic mail and Web usage by the government or law enforcement officials, employers, or email service providers.
- The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
- No Description Available.
- Federal Voting Systems Standards and Guidelines: Congressional Deliberations
- No Description Available.
- Science and Technology Policy: Issues for the 109th Congress
- Science and technology have a pervasive influence over a wide range of issues confronting the nation. Decisions on how much federal funding to invest in research and development (R&D), and determining what programs have the highest priority, for example, may have implications for homeland security, new high technology industries, government/private sector cooperation in R&D, and myriad other areas. This report indicates the sweep of science and technology in many public policy issues, although it cannot provide a comprehensive examination of every science or technology issue which may be of interest to Congress. This report identifies other CRS reports that treat most of those issues in more depth. It is updated occasionally.
- Space Launch Vehicles: Government Activities, Commercial Competition, and Satellite Exports
- This report includes information regarding space launch vehicles. U.S. launch vehicle policy, launch vehicle programs and issues, and commercial launch services industry are among topics discussed in this report.
- Telecommunications Discounts for Schools and Libraries: The “E-Rate” Program and Controversies
- This report addresses the controversial issues surrounding the E-rate program’s implementation and subsequent legislative measures introduced to address these issues. An additional issue, concern that minors may gain access to “inappropriate” material through the Internet has also had an impact on the E-rate program.
- The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
- No Description Available.
- Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs
- Some policymakers, believing that disparities in broadband access across American society could have adverse economic and social consequences on those left behind, assert that the federal government should play a more active role to avoid a “digital divide” in broadband access. One approach is for the federal government to provide financial assistance to support broadband deployment in underserved areas. Others, however, believe that federal assistance for broadband deployment is not appropriate. Some opponents question the reality of the “digital divide,” and argue that federal intervention in the broadband marketplace would be premature and, in some cases, counterproductive.
- Internet: An Overview of Key Technology Policy Issues Affecting Its Use and Growth, July 20, 2005
- This report summarizes several key technology policy issues such as Internet privacy, computer and internet security, broadband internet access, electronic commerce, spam, internet's domain name system, and e-government.
- Federal Enterprise Architecture and Information Technology Management: A Brief Overview
- No Description Available.
- Federal Enterprise Architecture: A Brief Overview
- No Description Available.
- The Advanced Technology Program
- This report summarizes the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and its creation. According to the report, the ATP was created to insure competitive technologies with broad applications throughout multiple industries. The report also covers information surrounding the budget of the program and its funding.
- The Advanced Technology Program
- The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) was created by P.L. 100-418, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, to encourage public-private cooperation in the development of pre-competitive technologies with broad application across industries. This activity has been targeted for elimination as a means to cut federal spending. Since FY2000, the original House-passed appropriation bills have not included funding for ATP. Many of the Administration’s budget requests have proposed termination of the program. However, ATP continues to be supported, although at levels below that achieved in FY1995 when the activity was expanded significantly. This report discusses funding (or lack thereof) appropriated for the ATP for FY2006.
- Cooperative R&D: Federal Efforts to Promote Industrial Competitiveness
- In response to the foreign challenge in the global marketplace, the United States Congress has explored ways to stimulate technological advancement in the private sector. The government has supported various efforts to promote cooperative research and development activities among industry, universities, and the federal R&D establishment designed to increase the competitiveness of American industry and to encourage the generation of new products, processes, and services. Among the issues before Congress are whether joint ventures contribute to industrial competitiveness and what role, if any, the government has in facilitating such arrangements.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate Over Government Policy
- This report summarizes the debate over government policy on industrial competitiveness and technological advancement and its connection to the U.S. economy. It also discusses congress' approach in the previous years on this topic, and the policy changes that have been implemented in recent years.
- Technology Transfer: Use of Federally Funded Research and Development
- No Description Available.
- Cybercrime: An Overview of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute and Related Federal Criminal Laws
- The federal computer fraud and abuse statute, 18 U.S.C. 1030, protects federal computers, bank computers, and computers used in interstate and foreign commerce. It shields them from trespassing, threats, damage, espionage, and from being corruptly used as instruments of fraud. It is not a comprehensive provision, but instead it fills crack and gaps in the protection afforded by other federal criminal laws. This is a brief sketch of section 1030 and some of its federal statutory companions.
- Digital Television: An Overview
- Digital television (DTV) is a new television service representing the most significant development in television technology since the advent of color television in the 1950s. DTV can provide sharper pictures, a wider screen, CD-quality sound, better color rendition, and other new services currently being developed. A successful deployment of DTV requires: the development by content providers of compelling digital programming; the delivery of digital signals to consumers by broadcast television stations, as well as cable and satellite television systems; and the widespread purchase and adoption by consumers of digital television equipment. A key issue in the Congressional debate over the digital transition has been addressing the millions of American over-the-air households whose existing analog televisions will require converter boxes in order to receive digital signals when the analog signal is turned off.
- The Advanced Technology Program
- This report summarizes the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and its creation. According to the report, the ATP was created to insure competitive technologies with broad applications throughout multiple industries. The report also covers information surrounding the budget of the program and its funding.
- The Bayh-Dole Act: Selected Issues in Patent Policy and the Commercialization of Technology
- No Description Available.
- Data Mining: An Overview
- Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. This report discusses the data mining uses (i.e. Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) Program) and issues (i.e. data quality, interoperability, privacy), as well as the limitations of data mining.
- Data Mining: An Overview
- Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. This report discusses the data mining uses (i.e. Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) Program) and issues (i.e. data quality, interoperability, privacy), as well as the limitations of data mining.
- Information Technology (IT) Management: The Clinger-Cohen Act and the Homeland Security Act of 2002
- This report discusses the effect of provisions like the Clinger-Cohen Act and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 on Information Technology (IT) management. It compares the effects of these acts on IT and potential issues are brought the forefront, with appropriate congressional action due.
- Cooperative R&D: Federal Efforts to Promote Industrial Competitiveness
- In response to the foreign challenge in the global marketplace, the United States Congress has explored ways to stimulate technological advancement in the private sector. The government has supported various efforts to promote cooperative research and development activities among industry, universities, and the federal R&D establishment designed to increase the competitiveness of American industry and to encourage the generation of new products, processes, and services. Among the issues before Congress are whether joint ventures contribute to industrial competitiveness and what role, if any, the government has in facilitating such arrangements.
- Technology Transfer: Use of Federally Funded Research and Development
- No Description Available.
- Navy Network-Centric Warfare Concept: Key Programs and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
- No Description Available.
- Information Brokers: Federal and State Laws
- This report discusses the federal and state laws that could be applicable to information brokers and legislation that has been introduced to address consumer concerns about the practice of information gathering, the selling of information, and identity theft resulting from security breaches.
- Internet Privacy: Overview and Pending Legislation
- No Description Available.
- High Performance Computers and Export Control Policy: Issues for Congress
- This report addresses the issues for congress related to high performance computers and export control policy.
- The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
- This report discusses federal funding for IT research and development. Proponents assert that federal support of IT R&D has produced positive outcomes for the country and played a crucial role in supporting long-term research into fundamental aspects of computing. Critics assert that the government, through its funding mechanisms, may be picking “winners and losers” in technological development, a role more properly residing with the private sector.
- Intercarrier Compensation: One Component of Telecom Reform
- No Description Available.
- Overview of NEPA Requirements
- This report provides an overview of The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. NEPA establishes national environmental policies that apply to the federal government and also prescribes certain procedural requirements for federal agency actions.
- Internet: An Overview of Key Technology Policy Issues Affecting Its Use and Growth
- This report gives an overview of key technology policy issues of the internet affecting its use and growth.
- Internet: An Overview of Key Technology Policy Issues Affecting Its Use and Growth, April 13, 2005
- This report summarizes several key technology policy issues such as Internet privacy, computer and internet security, broadband internet access, electronic commerce, spam, internet's domain name system, and e-government.
- Broadband Internet Access: Background and Issues
- From a public policy perspective, the goals are to ensure that broadband deployment is timely, that industry competes fairly, and that service is provided to all sectors and geographical locations of American society. The federal government -- through Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) -- is seeking to ensure fair competition among the players so that broadband will be available and affordable in a timely manner to all Americans who want it. While the FCC's position is not to intervene at this time, some assert that legislation is necessary to ensure fair competition and timely broadband deployment. One proposal would ease certain legal restrictions and requirements, imposed by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, on incumbent telephone companies who provide high speed data (broadband) access. Another proposal would compel cable companies to provide "open access" to competing Internet service providers.
- Computer Attack and Cyberterrorism: Vulnerabilities and Policy Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information for three types of attacks against computers (cyber-attack, physical attack, and electromagnetic attack), and discusses related vulnerabilities for each type of attack. The report also describes the possible effects of a coordinated cyberattack, or computer network attack (CNA), against U.S. infrastructure computers, along with possible technical capabilities of international terrorists.
- Industrial Competitiveness and Technological Advancement: Debate over Government Policy
- This updated report summarizes the debate on the government policy regarding industrial competitiveness and technological advancement and its influence on the U.S. economy. It discusses the most recent developments, dives into the background and analysis of the topic, and talks about Congress' plans and approach.
- Navy Network-Centric Warfare Concept: Key Programs and Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Science and Technology Policy: Issues for the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Funding Issues and Activities
- No Description Available.
- Network Centric Warfare: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.