FCC Wants Info To Help Curb Cyber Attacks

Collecting more data from broadband service providers could help the Federal Communications Commission play a strong role in protecting the nation from attacks waged online, James Barnett, the FCC's bureau chief for public safety and homeland security, said Tuesday.

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on cybersecurity, Barnett said the FCC believes that it should "secure additional data ... concerning network and service disruptions" from the nation's phone and cable companies. This information would provide "early warnings" of serious cybersecurity threats. "Companies are not going to be willing to share that information with each other," so government involvement might be critical to harnessing the data, Barnett said. "We are currently examining the best path forward to obtain this information." The prospect of a heightened FCC role in cybersecurity raised questions about effective coordination between government agencies. Sen Mark Begich (D-Alaska) asked which government entity "has the full authority ... who pulls the trigger?"

Barnett responded that the FCC is only a regulatory agency and has no trigger, adding that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is "making sure we have good communications with our federal partners," including the Justice Department. He said more detailed cybersecurity recommendations will be unveiled in the agency's national broadband plan next month.