Key lawmakers are pushing to dramatically escalate U.S. defenses against cyberattacks, crafting proposals that would empower the government to set and enforce security standards for private industry for the first time.The proposals, in Senate legislation that could be introduced as early as today, would broaden the focus of the government’s cybersecurity efforts to include not only military networks but also private systems that control essentials such as electricity and water distribution. At the same time, the bill would add regulatory teeth to ensure industry compliance with the rules, congressional officials familiar with the plan said yesterday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033103684.htmlCyber Bill May Misunderstand ICANN
Legislation unveiled Wednesday by Senate Commerce Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, would require greater oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The private entity based in California is slated to sever formal ties with the Commerce Department later this year and is working on a controversial plan that would change the way top-level domains, such as .biz, .info, and .us, are assigned.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/04/cyber-bill-may-misunderstand-i.phpUS Senate bill would give feds bigger cybersecurity role in private sector
Two U.S. senators are proposing legislation that would give federal officials significant new authority to create and enforce data security standards both for government agencies and key parts of the private sector.The Cybersecurity Act of 2009, which was introduced by Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), would empower the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish “measurable and auditable” security standards for all networks and systems run by federal agencies, government contractors and businesses that support critical infrastructure services. In addition, NIST would be charged with developing a standard for testing and accrediting software built by or for those groups.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9130958Bills call for cyber adviser, private network security regulations
Two senators introduced bills on Wednesday that would establish a direct cybersecurity adviser to the president and regulate how governments and businesses protect their networks from attack, strong actions that security professionals said are necessary to thwart global threats.Sens. John D. Rockefeller, D-WVa, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, jointly introduced two bills, one of which raises the profile of cybersecurity within the federal government, while the other streamlines cyber-related functions and authorities and tightens the relationship between government and the private sector on cybersecurity, according to a summary document.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090401_6424.phpAT&T lobbyist urges more government coordination of cybersecurity efforts
World governments need to do more to fight cyberterrorism and protect the Internet from attacks, because it has become so vital to commerce and communications, AT&T Inc.’s top lobbyist told reporters today.”The [U.S.] government is not playing the role it should have all along,” said James Cicconi, senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs at AT&T. “The government ought to play a coordinating role in cybersecurity.”
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9130939The Senate’s Cyber Lightning Rod
If the Bush administration’s $30 billion classified cyber defense initiative last year seemed controversial, prepare for a new round of battles over security, privacy and civil liberties in the digital realm.A new Senate bill introduced Wednesday is poised to extend federal cybersecurity regulations further into the private sector than ever before, and it is already sparking confusion and criticism among watchdog groups.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/01/cybersecurity-government-google-technology-security-cybersecurity.htmlUS plans national cybersecurity upgrade
A new bill presented to Congress would see mandatory computer security standards imposed on government and private companies that control the critical infrastructure of the US.The bill, sponsored by Senators John D. Rockefeller IV Olympia J. Snowe, would see the creation of a National Cybersecurity Advisor (NCA) with direct access to the president. The NCA would have the power to shut down any part of the US critical infrastructure, such as power, telephony or environmental supplies if an attack took place.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2239646/plans-national-cybersecurity
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