Legislation that would reorganize the Department of Homeland Security and raise the role of its cybersecurity branch was passed via voice vote by the House Homeland Security Committee during a markup Wednesday. HR-3359, which Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., introduced Monday, would redesignate the National Protection and Programs Directorate as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to be comprised of the cybersecurity, infrastructure security and emergency communications divisions. McCaul said the NPPD realignment is a "major step forward," making the agency "more streamlined and effective," and will "prioritize the cyber mission within the department." Similar legislation last year advanced through the committee but was never considered on the House floor, and McCaul earlier this year signaled reintroduction (see 1704270029 and 1705240033). The committee also advanced a substitute amendment to HR-2626, sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, that would use facial recognition and other biometric technology to screen travelers at U.S. ports of entry. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, sponsored an amendment, which was approved, to HR-2626 that requires Customs and Border Protection to provide a report on facial recognition data collected and how it's used to ensure privacy remains at the forefront. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., sponsored an amendment, which was approved, that social media screening of visa applicants be undertaken only for individuals considered high risk, and not be based on their residency and citizenship alone. The committee also approved HR-3202, sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, that would require the DHS secretary to provide a report on the policies and procedures developed for coordinating cyber vulnerability disclosures and instances in which they were used to reveal such vulnerabilities by industry and other stakeholders.
Legislation that would reorganize the Department of Homeland Security and raise the role of its cybersecurity branch was passed via voice vote by the House Homeland Security Committee during a markup Wednesday. HR-3359, which Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., introduced Monday, would redesignate the National Protection and Programs Directorate as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to be comprised of the cybersecurity, infrastructure security and emergency communications divisions. McCaul said the NPPD realignment is a "major step forward," making the agency "more streamlined and effective," and will "prioritize the cyber mission within the department." Similar legislation last year advanced through the committee but was never considered on the House floor, and McCaul earlier this year signaled reintroduction (see 1704270029 and 1705240033). The committee also advanced a substitute amendment to HR-2626, sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, that would use facial recognition and other biometric technology to screen travelers at U.S. ports of entry. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, sponsored an amendment, which was approved, to HR-2626 that requires Customs and Border Protection to provide a report on facial recognition data collected and how it's used to ensure privacy remains at the forefront. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., sponsored an amendment, which was approved, that social media screening of visa applicants be undertaken only for individuals considered high risk, and not be based on their residency and citizenship alone. The committee also approved HR-3202, sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, that would require the DHS secretary to provide a report on the policies and procedures developed for coordinating cyber vulnerability disclosures and instances in which they were used to reveal such vulnerabilities by industry and other stakeholders.
Legislation that would reorganize the Department of Homeland Security and raise the role of its cybersecurity branch was passed via voice vote by the House Homeland Security Committee during a markup Wednesday. HR-3359, which Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., introduced Monday, would redesignate the National Protection and Programs Directorate as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to be comprised of the cybersecurity, infrastructure security and emergency communications divisions. McCaul said the NPPD realignment is a "major step forward," making the agency "more streamlined and effective," and will "prioritize the cyber mission within the department." Similar legislation last year advanced through the committee but was never considered on the House floor, and McCaul earlier this year signaled reintroduction (see 1704270029 and 1705240033). The committee also advanced a substitute amendment to HR-2626, sponsored by Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, that would use facial recognition and other biometric technology to screen travelers at U.S. ports of entry. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, sponsored an amendment, which was approved, to HR-2626 that requires Customs and Border Protection to provide a report on facial recognition data collected and how it's used to ensure privacy remains at the forefront. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan, D-Calif., sponsored an amendment, which was approved, that social media screening of visa applicants be undertaken only for individuals considered high risk, and not be based on their residency and citizenship alone. The committee also approved HR-3202, sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, that would require the DHS secretary to provide a report on the policies and procedures developed for coordinating cyber vulnerability disclosures and instances in which they were used to reveal such vulnerabilities by industry and other stakeholders.
Commenters were split over possible FCC broadband regulation in apartment buildings and other residential and commercial multiple tenant environments (MTEs). Incompas, Sprint and others supported regulatory efforts to identify and remove barriers to broadband deployment and competition. Property owners, NCTA and others voiced concern about possible new broadband regulation. Initial comments were posted Monday and Tuesday in docket 17-142 on a notice of inquiry on the state of the MTE broadband market and whether the commission should act (see 1706220036).
Commenters were split over possible FCC broadband regulation in apartment buildings and other residential and commercial multiple tenant environments (MTEs). Incompas, Sprint and others supported regulatory efforts to identify and remove barriers to broadband deployment and competition. Property owners, NCTA and others voiced concern about possible new broadband regulation. Initial comments were posted Monday and Tuesday in docket 17-142 on a notice of inquiry on the state of the MTE broadband market and whether the commission should act (see 1706220036).
AT&T hires ex-public safety officials Ryan Burchnell and Fred Scalera as lead market development managers on FirstNet program ... U.K. commercial broadcaster ITV hires Carolyn McCall, ex-easyJet, as CEO, succeeding Adam Crozier, who stepped down in May to pursue other opportunities ... Christina Davis steps down as head-drama development, CBS Entertainment ... Kim Allman, ex-LifeLock, hired by Symantec to government affairs team following the company’s purchase of LifeLock, from which Tess Hetzel goes to work for the acquirer on corporate social responsibility issues.
Kim Allman, ex-LifeLock, hired by Symantec to government affairs team following the company’s purchase of LifeLock, from which Tess Hetzel goes to work for the acquirer on corporate social responsibility issues ... Federal Emergency Management Agency names among nonfederal members to National Advisory Council Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee: John Archer, SiriusXM; Edward Czarnecki, Monroe Electronics; Darrell Darnell, George Washington University; Robert DeLeon, Gila River Indian Community; Mark Demski, Intermedix; Harold Feld, Public Knowledge; Michael Fila, Cocopah Indian Tribe; Dana Golub, PBS; Suzanne Goucher, Maine Association of Broadcasters; Don Hall, Emergency Communications Network; Steven Hill, Satellite and Broadcasting Communications Association; Brian Josef, CTIA; John Lawson, AWARN (Advanced Warning and Response Network) Alliance; Frank Lucia, Georgia Tech Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center; Sam Matheny, NAB; Harold Price, Sage Alerting Systems; Craig Saari, Charter Communications; Andy Scott, NCTA; and Richard Strack, Boise State Public Radio.
U.K. commercial broadcaster ITV hires Carolyn McCall, ex-easyJet, as CEO, succeeding Adam Crozier, who stepped down in May to pursue other opportunities ... Kim Allman, ex-LifeLock, hired by Symantec to government affairs team following the company’s purchase of LifeLock, from which Tess Hetzel goes to work for Symantec on corporate social responsibility issues ... Federal Emergency Management Agency names among nonfederal members to National Advisory Council Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Subcommittee: John Archer, SiriusXM; Edward Czarnecki, Monroe Electronics; Darrell Darnell, George Washington University; Robert DeLeon, Gila River Indian Community; Mark Demski, Intermedix; Harold Feld, Public Knowledge; Michael Fila, Cocopah Indian Tribe; Dana Golub, PBS; Suzanne Goucher, Maine Association of Broadcasters; Don Hall, Emergency Communications Network; Steven Hill, Satellite and Broadcasting Communications Association; Brian Josef, CTIA; John Lawson, AWARN (Advanced Warning and Response Network) Alliance; Frank Lucia, Georgia Tech Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center; Sam Matheny , NAB; Harold Price, Sage Alerting Systems; Craig Saari, Charter Communications; Andy Scott, NCTA; and Richard Strack, Boise State Public Radio.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a nationwide emergency alert system test either Sept. 27 or, as a backup, Oct. 4, FEMA said in a letter posted Friday in FCC docket 15-94 to Public Safety Bureau Chief Lisa Fowlkes. The proposed test would be “originated in the same manner” as the national test conducted last September, FEMA said. Meantime, a dedicated EAS event code for blue alerts would facilitate the adoption of new blue alert plans in the 23 states that don’t yet have one, and a national blue alert network would help save police lives, said the National Association of Police Organizations in comments posted in FCC docket 15-94 Monday. “Lack of a dedicated Blue Alert EAS event code is one of the main obstacles to states adopting and using Blue Alert plans,” the filing said. “With the number of law enforcement officer assaults, injuries, and deaths increasing sharply in recent years, a functioning National Blue Alert Network, with all states participating, is vital.” Commissioners approved an NPRM at their June meeting (see 1706220045).
Officials with the 911 National Emergency Address Database, an independent entity established by CTIA, explained the basics on NEAD and its privacy and security plan in a meeting with staff from the FCC Public Safety Bureau and Office of General Counsel. NEAD representatives last week “discussed how the Plan was developed and designed consistent with the requirements and spirit” of rules, said a filing Tuesday in docket 07-114. “The NEAD Platform has been designed and will be operated in a manner intended to protect individuals’ private information and address cybersecurity concerns,” it said. “An internal operational process will be implemented to assess, audit, and determine compliance with applicable privacy and data security requirements on an ongoing basis.”