ANCHOR Act
The Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act (ANCHOR Act) would require the Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with federal agency owners and any university or laboratory that operates a U.S. Academic Research Fleet vessel, to submit within 18 months a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The plan must assess the fleet’s networking and cybersecurity needs, estimate costs (equipment, personnel, and potential impact on charter rates), outline a timeline for upgrades under different funding scenarios, and explore cost-saving options such as shared solutions, consortial licensing, or centralizing elements of cyberinfrastructure and data management at a single facility. It also requires a funding plan involving NSF, the Office of Naval Research, non-Federal vessel owners, fleet users, or combinations thereof. The plan should consider network capabilities needed for mission-critical operations, telemedicine, data transfer to cloud or shoreside servers, remote instrumentation and maintenance, and outreach/education. A progress report on implementing the plan is due within two years after the plan’s submission. The Director would oversee upgrades in coordination with relevant parties, in line with cybersecurity standards and international information-security guidance.
Key Points
- 1Deadline and scope: Within 18 months, the NSF Director must submit a plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, in consultation with federal agency owners and non-Federal vessel owners or operators.
- 2Plan components: Needs assessment; cybersecurity needs aligned with guidance from CISA and NIST; cost estimates (equipment, personnel, and impact on daily charter rates); implementation timelines under various funding scenarios; opportunities for common solutions, consortial licensing, or centralizing cyberinfrastructure and data management.
- 3Funding and implementation: A spending plan is required to cover the described costs, with funding sources potentially including NSF, the Office of Naval Research, non-Federal vessel owners, and fleet users; upgrades may be supported consistent with the plan.
- 4Considerations and standards: The plan must address network bandwidth and capabilities for mission needs, telemedicine and remote care, data transfer and disaster recovery, real-time streaming for shore observers, remote instrumentation, and communication requirements for outreach; it also should align with JASON’s cybersecurity recommendations for NSF major facilities and adopt applicable international information-security standards, including encryption and incident handling.
- 5Reporting: Not later than two years after the plan is submitted, the Director must provide a progress report to Congress on implementation.
- 6Definitions and scope: The act uses defined terms for the Director (NSF Director) and the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (U.S.-flagged oceanographic research vessels operated by universities/labs, recognized as fleet members, and active in UNOLS).