[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1717 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1717
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a council
to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability,
and interoperability of communications networks, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a council
to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability,
and interoperability of communications networks, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Communications Security Act''.
SEC. 2. COUNCIL ON COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY, RELIABILITY, AND
INTEROPERABILITY.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall--
(1) establish a council to advise the Commission on issues
including the security, reliability, and interoperability of
communications networks; or
(2) designate for purposes of this section an advisory
committee of the Commission that is operating on the date of
the enactment of this Act under a charter for the purpose of
addressing the issues described in paragraph (1) and, if the
membership of such committee does not comply with subsection
(b), modify such membership to comply with such subsection.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--The members of the council shall be
appointed by the Chair.
(2) Composition.--To the extent practicable, the membership
of the council shall be composed of the following:
(A) Representatives of companies in the
communications industry, except companies that are
determined by the Chair to be not trusted.
(B) Representatives of public interest
organizations or academic institutions, except public
interest organizations or academic institutions that
are determined by the Chair to be not trusted.
(C) Representatives of the Federal Government,
State governments, local governments, or Tribal
Governments, with at least one member representing each
such type of government.
(3) Knowledge and experience.--Each member of the council
shall have knowledge and experience relevant to the purpose and
goals of the council.
(4) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member of the council shall
be appointed for a term of 2 years, except as provided
in subparagraph (B).
(B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member
may serve after the expiration of that member's term
until a successor has taken office.
(c) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which the council is established or designated (as the case may
be) under subsection (a), and every 2 years thereafter, the
council shall submit to the Chair each report adopted by the
council during the preceding 2-year period, and any report
adopted by any working group of the council during such period,
including any such report of the council or a working group
containing recommendations on ways to increase the security,
reliability, and interoperability of communications networks,
and on other relevant issues as appropriate.
(2) Availability on commission website.--The Commission
shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly
available on the website of the Commission.
(d) Duration.--Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code
(relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not apply to
the council.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chair.--The term ``Chair'' means the Chair of the
Commission.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Communications Commission.
(3) Council.--The term ``council'' means the council
established under subsection (a)(1) or the advisory committee
designated under subsection (a)(2), as the case may be.
(4) Not trusted.--
(A) In general.--The term ``not trusted'' means,
with respect to an entity, that--
(i) the Chair has made a public
determination that such entity is owned by,
controlled by, or subject to the influence of a
foreign adversary; or
(ii) the Chair otherwise determines that
such entity poses a threat to the national
security of the United States.
(B) Criteria for determination.--In making a
determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chair
shall use the criteria described in paragraphs (1)
through (4) of section 2(c) of the Secure and Trusted
Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C.
1601(c)), as appropriate.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such
term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C.
153).
<all>