Sens. Hickenlooper, Capito Reintroduce Bill to Create Cybersecurity Office Related to Critical Infrastructure

Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, a bipartisan bill to modernize and codify the NTIA’s work in cybersecurity. The NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development would be renamed the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity to better align with the agency’s 21st-century mission of helping secure the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The redesignated office would be led by an Associate Administrator and be responsible for:

• Developing cybersecurity policy as it relates to telecommunications, the internet, consumer software services, and public media;
• Creating guidance and support for implementing cybersecurity and privacy measures for internet and telecommunication companies;
• Promoting collaboration between security research and industry;
• Preventing and mitigating future software vulnerabilities in communications networks;
• Removing barriers for implementing, understanding, and investing in cybersecurity for communications and software providers; and
• Providing technical assistance on cybersecurity practices to small and rural communications service providers.