Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker's "exit memo" outlined accomplishments on cybersecurity, an open internet and trade during the Obama administration, but warned the government "is currently not properly organized to face the challenges posed by the 21st century digital economy." She said the government should focus on five issues: access, cybersecurity, free internet, emerging technologies and workforce issues. Policies and incentives are needed to encourage investment in broadband access. Pritzker said a there's a "growing global cybersecurity crisis" at the hands of criminals and nation-states and the incoming administration should work to promote strong cybersecurity policies, baseline privacy rules and use of encryption as well as government access to data. The President's Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (see 1612020050) recently delivered recommendations to improve cyber defenses and raise cyber awareness. Pritzker said trade agreements and other policies to "protect cross-border data flows, discourage digital protectionism, and ensure open digital markets" should be pursued. She underscored transfer of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions to a multistakeholder, nongovernment group (see 1610030042), completion of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield to ensure that the transfer of Europeans' personal data is protected (see 1602020040), and creation of the Digital Economy Board of Advisors (see 1612150069) and digital trade attaches program (see 1612120018). Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and IoT are some emerging technologies that should be encouraged and the department should be an "evangelist" to break down barriers to innovation, she said.
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson's “exit memo” to mark the impending close of President Barack Obama's administration noted “tangible improvements” to the DHS' record on cybersecurity during the Obama administration and said “more work remains.” DHS was one of several federal agencies that touted cybersecurity progress in their exit memos. The Department of Commerce noted the success of the National Institute of Standards and Technology-facilitated Cybersecurity Framework (see 1701050012). DHS' cyber progress includes the establishment and growth of the department's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, Johnson said in his memo. NCCIC's mission expanded last year after the 2015 Cybersecurity Act mandated that the center become the main civilian hub for cyber information sharing. Seventy-four entities, including 12 federal agencies, were connected to NCCIC's automated indicator sharing platform as of October, Johnson said. DHS established an “aggressive timetable” for improving federal agencies' cybersecurity under Obama's Cybersecurity National Action Plan, including work on agencies' adoption of the Einstein 3A cyber monitoring program, Johnson said. DHS also successfully established the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team and is an active participant in international cybersecurity partnerships, Johnson said.
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker's "exit memo" outlined accomplishments on cybersecurity, an open internet and trade during the Obama administration, but warned the government "is currently not properly organized to face the challenges posed by the 21st century digital economy." She said the government should focus on five issues: access, cybersecurity, free internet, emerging technologies and workforce issues. Policies and incentives are needed to encourage investment in broadband access. Pritzker said a there's a "growing global cybersecurity crisis" at the hands of criminals and nation-states and the incoming administration should work to promote strong cybersecurity policies, baseline privacy rules and use of encryption as well as government access to data. The President's Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (see 1612020050) recently delivered recommendations to improve cyber defenses and raise cyber awareness. Pritzker said trade agreements and other policies to "protect cross-border data flows, discourage digital protectionism, and ensure open digital markets" should be pursued. She underscored transfer of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions to a multistakeholder, nongovernment group (see 1610030042), completion of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield to ensure that the transfer of Europeans' personal data is protected (see 1602020040), and creation of the Digital Economy Board of Advisors (see 1612150069) and digital trade attaches program (see 1612120018). Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and IoT are some emerging technologies that should be encouraged and the department should be an "evangelist" to break down barriers to innovation, she said.
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker's "exit memo" outlined accomplishments on cybersecurity, an open internet and trade during the Obama administration, but warned the government "is currently not properly organized to face the challenges posed by the 21st century digital economy." She said the government should focus on five issues: access, cybersecurity, free internet, emerging technologies and workforce issues. Policies and incentives are needed to encourage investment in broadband access. Pritzker said a there's a "growing global cybersecurity crisis" at the hands of criminals and nation-states and the incoming administration should work to promote strong cybersecurity policies, baseline privacy rules and use of encryption as well as government access to data. The President's Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (see 1612020050) recently delivered recommendations to improve cyber defenses and raise cyber awareness. Pritzker said trade agreements and other policies to "protect cross-border data flows, discourage digital protectionism, and ensure open digital markets" should be pursued. She underscored transfer of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions to a multistakeholder, nongovernment group (see 1610030042), completion of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield to ensure that the transfer of Europeans' personal data is protected (see 1602020040), and creation of the Digital Economy Board of Advisors (see 1612150069) and digital trade attaches program (see 1612120018). Artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and IoT are some emerging technologies that should be encouraged and the department should be an "evangelist" to break down barriers to innovation, she said.
Business groups, cybersecurity experts, free-market advocates and physicians came to the defense of LabMD CEO Michael Daugherty in his long-running fight against the FTC, which said that the medical-testing lab was liable for lax data security practices and exposing sensitive patient information (see 1610030016). In amicus briefs filed over the past two weeks in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, LabMD supporters argued the FTC exceeded its authority to regulate data security practices, doesn't provide companies with "fair notice" about security requirements and could stifle innovation.
Business groups, cybersecurity experts, free-market advocates and physicians came to the defense of LabMD CEO Michael Daugherty in his long-running fight against the FTC, which said that the medical-testing lab was liable for lax data security practices and exposing sensitive patient information (see 1610030016). In amicus briefs filed over the past two weeks in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, LabMD supporters argued the FTC exceeded its authority to regulate data security practices, doesn't provide companies with "fair notice" about security requirements and could stifle innovation.
LAS VEGAS -- Fiber is critical as the IoT emerges and traditional broadband doesn’t offer a big enough pipe, said Magellan Advisors CEO John Honker at the CES broadband conference Wednesday. Honker, whose company advises cities and businesses building out fiber, spoke during a panel organized by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council.
LAS VEGAS -- Fiber is critical as the IoT emerges and traditional broadband doesn’t offer a big enough pipe, said Magellan Advisors CEO John Honker at the CES broadband conference Wednesday. Honker, whose company advises cities and businesses building out fiber, spoke during a panel organized by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., is preparing for the likelihood of securing a roll call vote on the floor for his newly reintroduced Mobile Now spectrum bill (S-19), he told us Wednesday. He anticipates creating a bigger package of telecom measures through the Mobile Now markup process, he said, potentially wrapping in other items that failed to clear the upper chamber last session.
LAS VEGAS -- Fiber is critical as the IoT emerges and traditional broadband doesn’t offer a big enough pipe, said Magellan Advisors CEO John Honker at the CES broadband conference Wednesday. Honker, whose company advises cities and businesses building out fiber, spoke during a panel organized by the Fiber-to-the-Home Council.