Bill Overview
Title: Safely Accessing Telecommunications Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Defense and the Department of State to enter into contracts with satellite-based companies to provide internet and mobile services in countries where the U.S. government is engaged in certain activities, such as providing military or humanitarian assistance. The bill imposes requirements on such contracts, such as requiring such a satellite-based company to comply with certain export licensing regulations.
Sponsors: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: People in countries where the US provides military or humanitarian assistance who will receive satellite communication services
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill involves satellite-based internet and mobile services, impacting people in remote or underserved regions where such services are provided.
- The U.S. government engages in military or humanitarian activities in multiple countries, so citizens of these countries would be impacted.
- Humanitarian assistance usually targets populations in crisis or conflict zones, often including large numbers of displaced people or those affected by disasters.
- Military engagement zones might also include active conflict zones where civilians suffer from lack of telecommunications infrastructure, impacting their access to information and communication.
- Global satellite-based internet and mobile services could influence broader global connectivity issues, particularly in developing nations.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects Americans who are involved in international activities as military or State Department employees, employees of companies contracting for the services, or those with family ties abroad who may be impacted by the availability of telecommunication services in conflict or disaster zones.
- Given that the policy allows satellite-based companies to provide services in specific zones, general U.S. citizens might not experience direct effects unless they are involved in overseas missions or have personal or professional interests in those regions.
- The budget limits suggest a significant yet focused impact globally, affecting connectivity in targeted areas.
- Population distribution suggests that most direct impacts are on non-U.S. citizens, suggesting American personnel involved overseas may experience slight improvements in operational efficiency or personal convenience.
Simulated Interviews
U.S. Navy officer (San Diego, California)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could improve communication while deployed.
- It might make coordination with local allies better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
State Department employee (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could make my job easier and more efficient.
- Telecommunications are critical for emergency responses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Engineer at a satellite communications company (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More contracts could mean more job security.
- There are ethical concerns about supporting military activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
NGO worker (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy may enhance our communication capabilities in the field.
- Stable connections are crucial for effective aid delivery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Telecom industry lobbyist (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy fosters innovation and growth within the telecom industry.
- There's a hope that successful projects abroad will have domestic applications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software developer at satellite tech startup (San Francisco, California)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might create more projects to work on.
- There's excitement about working on technology impacting global connectivity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Journalist covering defense policy (New York, New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable communications are vital for reporting.
- The policy could improve safety and efficiency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military family member (Miami, Florida)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that improves connection reliability is welcomed.
- I hope this closes the gap during deployments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Defense contractor analyst (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This creates more work and opportunities for analysis.
- There is an impact on strategic planning for contractors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retired military officer (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this can modernize our military's communication efforts.
- Improved telecom can enhance overall mission success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $515000000 (Low: $415500000, High: $618000000)
Year 3: $530450000 (Low: $430500000, High: $636000000)
Year 5: $561865500 (Low: $455000000, High: $671000000)
Year 10: $628894455 (Low: $505000000, High: $750000000)
Year 100: $1124670000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1500000000)
Key Considerations
- Adherence to stringent export licensing regulations could influence operational timelines and costs.
- Political and security conditions in target countries may affect satellite service deployment and sustainability.
- The reliance on commercial satellite companies may result in negotiated prices subject to market fluctuations.
- The policy provides an opportunity to enhance strategic communications capability, potentially affecting military effectiveness.