Senators John Hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov and Shelley Moore Capito https://www.capito.senate.gov have introduced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act.
The bipartisan bill would refocus NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development on Cybersecurity and be renamed the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity to help secure information and communication technology.
In recent years, NTIA has increasingly adapted to the rising importance of cybersecurity as relates to our critical infrastructure and daily functions. The bill would codify, strengthen, and provide Congressional guidance to NTIA’s ongoing cybersecurity activities.
The redesigned office would be led by an Associate Administrator to:
- Develop cybersecurity policy as it relates to telecommunications, the internet, consumer software services and public media
- Create guidance and support for implementing cybersecurity and privacy measures for internet and telecommunication companies
- Promote collaboration between security, research, and industry
- Prevent and mitigate future software vulnerabilities in communication networks
- Remove barriers in order to implement understanding and investing in cybersecurity for communications and software providers
- Provide technology assistance for cybersecurity practices to small and rural communicator service providers
Shirley Bloomfield CFO, for NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association with nearly 850 community based broadband providers, realizes that the legislation is intended to develop guidance and support for internet and telecommunications companies and assistance to small and rural providers.
She reports that NTCA developed the CyberShare Initiative to offer cyber threat information sharing and dissemination platform for smaller broadband operators and is looking forward to further engaging with the Senators as the legislation moves forward.
In the House, a Companion Bill has been introduced by Representatives Jeff Duncan, Susan Wild, and John Curtis.
Go to https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov, click on Media then the October 8, 2021 Press Release, for the full text of the bill.