U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to update the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA’s) work in cybersecurity.
The NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, S. 2049, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), would rename the NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development to the Office for Policy Development and Cybersecurity. U.S. Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) is also a cosponsor.
“Cyberattacks and breaches of private data ultimately hurt American consumers, and as technology and the telecommunications industry continues to advance, so do the threats from hackers and bad actors,” Sen. Capito said. “Provisions must be in place to strengthen NTIA’s Office for Policy Analysis and Development, and protect the private information of the public they serve.”
Under S. 2049, the redesignated office would be led by an associate administrator and would be responsible for numerous tasks, including 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; and preventing and mitigating future software vulnerabilities in communications networks, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s office.
“I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that takes necessary, proactive steps to develop cybersecurity guidance, identify potential vulnerabilities, and promote collaboration between the public and private sectors with the ultimate goal of protecting consumers,” said Sen. Capito.
S. 2049 is the companion bill to the same-named H.R. 1766, introduced in March by U.S. Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA). The U.S. House of Representatives’ bill passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 4.