This bill adds a new Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity inside the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). It creates the job of Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity, who reports to the Assistant Secretary. The office’s listed duties include developing and analyzing market-based approaches to communications and internet matters; studying how people in the United States access and use internet, phone, media, and video services; coordinating multistakeholder processes for cybersecurity and privacy; promoting collaboration between security researchers and service or software providers; and supporting work under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. The office is also directed to advocate for secure and resilient communications networks, present cybersecurity matters to the Commission and Congress at the Assistant Secretary’s direction, give the Assistant Secretary advice on cybersecurity issues, push policies to speed innovation and commercialization, identify barriers facing innovators (including access to capital), provide public access to relevant data and research, and coordinate with other Commerce Department offices, state agencies, and other federal agencies. The bill includes transitional rules that rename the current Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development to the new title and makes the current officeholder the new Associate Administrator as of the bill’s enactment date.
If enacted, the NTIA would have a new office focused on internet, communications, and cybersecurity policy and coordination. The office would conduct studies about how people use communications services, create guidance through multistakeholder processes, encourage cooperation between security researchers and companies, support innovation and commercialization efforts, and seek feedback from small and rural communications providers. The office would also work with other Commerce Department offices, state agencies, and federal agencies on these topics.
No publicly available information on costs or budgetary effects is included in the bill text provided.
No publicly available information on proponents’ stated views is included in the bill text provided.
No publicly available information on opponents’ stated views is included in the bill text provided.