Tom Wheeler of the Federal Communications Commission recently outlined in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute the commission’s approach to cybersecurity and their strategy, which will focus on information sharing, network protection and situational awareness.
“The FCC’s cybersecurity initiative will be led by the private sector, with the Commission serving as a monitor and backstop in the event that the market-led approach fails,” explained Jameson Dempsey, Dawn Damschen and Steve Augustino, of Kelley Drye & Warren, in a post on the Telecom Law Monitor blog. Here are some things to watch out for with the new initiative:
- Information sharing: The authors explain the FCC is investigating legal and practical barriers that prevent organizations and companies from sharing invaluable information about cyberthreats and vulnerabilities.
- Risk management: Wheeler wants to work with communication providers to set out how companies in the sector manage their internal cybersecurity risk, they said. He also wants feedback on the voluntary cybersecurity standards of the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council.
- Investment: The FCC will explore innovations that further cybersecurity for the entire communications industry—be it with companies or academics, said the authors. Wheeler said he’ll specifically be working to “identify incentives, impediments, and opportunities for security innovations in the market for communications hardware, firmware and software.”
