The ANCHOR Act: Improving Cybersecurity and Internet for Research Ships

• •The Director of the National Science Foundation must submit a plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet within 18 months of enactment.
• •The plan must assess current networking needs, cybersecurity requirements, and the costs of necessary equipment and personnel.
• •The plan must include a spending strategy involving the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and non-Federal vessel owners.
• •The Director must submit a progress report on the implementation of the plan no later than two years after the plan is submitted.
• •The plan must consider network capabilities for telemedicine, mental health care, and remote counseling for personnel at sea.
• •The plan must address the ability to conduct real-time streaming for remote maintenance and scientific research.
• •The plan must include provisions for K-12 educational outreach and remote classroom teaching from vessels.
• •Cybersecurity assessments must align with guidance from CISA and NIST, and incorporate recommendations from the 2021 JASON report (JSR-21-10E).
• •The plan must evaluate the feasibility of centralizing data management or using consortial licensing agreements to reduce costs.
• •The bill defines the U.S. Academic Research Fleet as U.S.-flagged vessels operated by research universities and laboratories that participate in the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

This bill mandates a federal strategy to modernize the digital infrastructure of academic research ships, which will determine future funding requirements and operational standards for universities and laboratories that operate these vessels.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.