Report on optical communications and networking standards for national security space architectures

(a) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force, acting through the Chief of Space Operations and in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Aquistion and Integration, the Commander of Space Systems Command, and the Director of the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the governance, maintenance, validation, implementation, and future development of optical communications and networking standards for national security space architectures. (b) Elements The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A description of the governance structure for such standards, including the roles and responsibilities of relevant Department of Defense organizations and participating industry and allied stakeholders. (2) A description of the process by which such standards are developed, reviewed, validated, approved, published, maintained, and incorporated into acquisition programs and requirements. (3) An assessment of the extent to which current and planned standards support cross-vendor interoperability, backward compatibility where practicable, and participation by qualified commercial providers. (4) A description of technical validation processes, testing activities, and mechanisms for incorporating operational lessons learned and industry feedback into future standards revisions. (5) An assessment of how such standards are being incorporated into United States Space Force architecture planning, acquisition activities, and allied and partner engagements. (6) An assessment of risks associated with transitioning between versions of such standards, including impacts on competition, acquisition timelines, interoperability, and mission assurance. (7) Identification of any legislative, policy, authority, or resource gaps that limit the Department’s ability to sustain and evolve such standards. (c) Briefing Not later than 30 days after submitting the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the findings and recommendations contained in the report. (d) Form The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.