Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes statutory authority for a council established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide advice regarding the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. (This advice is currently provided by the FCC's Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council.)

Highlights:

• Establishes statutory authority for a council established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide advice regarding the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. (This advice is currently provided by the FCC's Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council.) (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the FCC may designate an existing advisory committee to fulfill this role, provided the committee’s membership is modified, as necessary, to comply with membership requirements set forth in the bill (Sec. 2).

• Requires the council to include, to the extent practicable, representatives of companies in the (Sec. 2):

• Communications industry; 

• Public interest organizations or academic institutions; and

• Federal, state, tribal, and local governments (with at least one member representing each level of government). 

• Specifies that members are to be selected by the FCC's chair and generally may not include representatives of entities owned or controlled by, or subject to the influence of, a foreign adversary, or otherwise deemed to pose a threat to U.S. national security (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that under current law, federal advisory committees must generally terminate after 2 years unless they are renewed or a statute specifies a different termination date. However, the bill exempts the council from this requirement (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text