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Cybersecurity

Ten Years After the Beginning of Broadband Data Collection Efforts, M-Lab Gathers to Celebrate

Published on August 8, 2018 in Broadband Data/Broadband Mapping/Cybersecurity/National Broadband Plan/Privacy by Heather Heimbach

WASHINGTON, August 8, 2018 – Experts in broadband data analysis on Tuesday criticized internet service providers for overstating coverage in federal broadband data collection efforts, and for resisting cooperation that could increase network security. At an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of Measurement Lab, or “M-Lab,” held at the New America Foundation, experts spoke about…

U.S. is Falling Behind in Internet Influence to Europe, Russia and China, Cybersecurity Experts Tell Senate

Published on July 31, 2018 in Asia/Broadband and Democratization/Cybersecurity/Europe/Privacy/Senate/White House by Heather Heimbach

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2018 – The U.S. is falling behind in internet regulation and risks losing the global internet leadership position to the EU, China, and Russia, some internet privacy experts said at a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. On July 31, the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet held a hearing to…

European and Chinese Pressures are Squeezing Silicon Valley, Threatening a Global ‘Splinternet’

Published on July 9, 2018 in Asia/Cybersecurity/Europe/Privacy by Heather Heimbach

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 – The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation is raising the danger of the “splinternet” syndrome, as top tech companies prioritize international standards over American ones, warned experts at a June 28 event of the Federalist Society. Officials from Google, Microsoft, and cybersecurity company Endgame addressed growing cybersecurity concerns that international…

Blockchain Brings Distributed Computing to Automating More Than Simply Bitcoin

Published on June 14, 2018 in Artificial Intelligence/Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/Innovation/zBroadband News by Drew Clark

BROADBAND BREAKFAST INSIGHT: Blockchain is beginning to be recognized as much more than simply the technology powering Bitcoin. As this understanding seeps into the popular consciousness, policy-makers will begin to recognize how significant this innovation is for distributed computing and automating processes – financial, transactional, logistical and legal. Shane Tews at AEI Ideas delves into…

How Can the Federal Government Get Citizens to Take Cybersecurity More Seriously?

Published on June 8, 2018 in Cybersecurity/NTIA by Heather Heimbach

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2018 – Concerns that consumers will fail to adopt even basic security measures to protect themselves – and thereby endanger the entire internet ecosystem – is becoming an increasingly dire issue. That was the message delivered at a Thursday cybersecurity policy forum hosted by the trade group US Telecom. Panelists included public…

With Political Cyberattacks in the Background, Trump Administration Prepares Cybersecurity Review

Published on July 6, 2017 in Congress/Cybersecurity/White House by Andrew Feinberg

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2017 — The threat of mass cyberattack has been forcing the Trump Administration to take precautionary steps and boost the profile of cybersecurity. And yet the Trump Administration hasn’t yet assembled a cohesive cybersecurity strategy after five months in office. Trump signed an executive order on May 11, and which the White…

Federal Trade Commission Workshop on Connected Cars Raises Issues of Data Breaches and Privacy

Published on July 3, 2017 in Autonomous Vehicles/Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/FTC/Privacy by Casey Ryan

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2017 – Self-driving vehicles could reduce congestion, supplement public transit systems and help the elderly and disabled travel safely, said Jeffrey Massimilla, chief product cybersecurity officer of Product Cybersecurity for General Motors, at a Federal Trade Commission workshop on Wednesday. Maureen Ohlhausen, acting chairman of the FTC, said that most new cars…

Inaugural Meeting of CEO-Driven American Technology Council Seeks to Highlight Cyber-Security Protections

Published on June 21, 2017 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/White House by Andrew Feinberg

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2017 — President Donald Trump on Monday kicked off the White House’s “tech week” by calling for a “sweeping transformation of the federal government’s technology” while speaking during the first meeting of the American Technology Council. The effort of information technology company CEOs – which Trump called an “incredible group” during their…

More Data is Necessary to Make Defending Against Security Breaches a Rational Cost-Benefit Calculation

Published on June 18, 2017 in Cybersecurity/Privacy by Casey Ryan

ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 18, 2017 – The key to defending against security breaches is collecting more data, said a University of Illinois at Chicago professor during a June 8 panel at the on the law and economics of privacy and data security. Hosted at George Mason University here and moderated by Brenda Leong, director of…

Rep. Marsha Blackburn at Partisan Hearing on Cybercrime: ‘Hackers are Smart, and They are Adapting’

Published on June 15, 2017 in Cybersecurity/House of Representatives/Net Neutrality/Privacy by Casey Ryan

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2017 – Cybercrimes cost the global economy about $450 billion annually, House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said Tuesday as she cited the 2017 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report. “Hackers are smart, and they are adapting,” said Blackburn. “McAfee’s 2016 Mobile Threat Report notes mobile devices are quickly becoming the cybercriminals target…

White House Cybersecurity Czar Highlights Escalation Paths for Cyberdefense, Highlights ‘Risk-Management’

Published on August 17, 2015 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity by Drew Clark

ASPEN, August 17, 2015 – The Technology Policy Institute’s Aspen 2015 Forum opened here on Sunday night with a focus on the increasing prominence that cybersecurity threats play in core national defense matters.

“A greater and greater percentage of the president’s daily briefings is taken up with cybersecurity threats,” said Michael Daniel, special assistant to the president and cybersecurity coordinator, speaking at the mountain resort here in a question-and-answer session with Alan Raul, a partner and global coordinator for privacy and data security with the law firm of Sidley Austin.

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Michael Daniel, White House Cybersecurity Czar, and Alan Raul, at Aspen.

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AT&T Settles with FCC for $25 Million in Landmark Privacy and Data Breach Agreement

Published on April 8, 2015 in Cybersecurity/Expert Opinion/FCC/Privacy by Robert Cattanach

Editor’s Note: On Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced a $25 million settlement with AT&T for data breaches including the releasing of thousands of customer records, including names, phone numbers and some Social Security numbers.

BroadbandBreakfast.com welcomes commentaries and opinions on this and other subjects from a multitude of viewpoints.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2015 – The FCC’s settlement with AT&T sets another benchmark for data breach enforcement, with several important developments.

First, it demonstrates the continuing encroachment of the FCC into areas once thought to be the exclusive domain of the FTC. This is a classic data breach enforcement action that typically would have been prosecuted by the FTC until most recently. […]

Speaking at Federal Trade Commission, Obama Urges Internet Privacy Legislation for Consumers and Students

Published on January 12, 2015 in Cybersecurity/Net Neutrality/Privacy by BroadbandBreakfast.com Staff

WASHINGTON, January 12, 2015 – President Barack Obama on Monday announced that his administration would push for two new pieces of federal internet privacy legislation, one pertaining to consumers and one pertaining to students. He also announced that the Department of Education would offer new tools to help students and teacher help protect their privacy.…

Broadband Roundup: China’s Tit-for-Tat with America on Cybercrime; FCC Chairman Wheeler Discusses Next-Generation Internet Networks

Published on May 27, 2014 in Asia/Broadband Roundup/Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/FCC/Fiber by Marcus Hedenberg

WASHINGTON, May 27, 2014 – In what appears to be a tit-for-tat on the United States Justice Department’s indictments last week for cybercrime, China has accused the United States of spying on government officials, businesses and mobile phone users, reported the BBC News. “As a superpower, the United States takes advantage of its political, economic,…

Broadband Roundup: House Passes USA Freedom Act to Rein in NSA, But Key Civil Liberties Groups Defect

Published on May 22, 2014 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/Privacy by Marcus Hedenberg

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 – The House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act on Thursday in a 303 to 121 vote, according to Ars Technica, instituting changes to the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of American phone records. The goal is to end the practice of gathering records of meta-data about the individuals to which and…

FBI Director Testifies On Cybersecurity, Says Agency Can Balance National Security and Civil Liberties

Published on May 22, 2014 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity by Marcus Hedenberg

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 – At the Senate Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing on the FBI on Wednesday, FBI Director James Comey faced scrutiny over the agency’s ability to balance national security and civil liberties in light of technological advancements. Among issues discussed were cyber threats and surveillance programs that acquire data on a massive scale.…

Broadband Roundup: Germany Rebuffs Surveillance for Repression, Wearable Technology in the Body and Cyber-Attacks

Published on May 21, 2014 in Broadband Roundup/Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/Wireless by Marcus Hedenberg

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2014 – ABC News reported that Germany plans to limit their exports of surveillance technology to states “that fail to respect their human rights.” The action is a response to recent allegations made against intelligence agencies, claiming that surveillance programs have been unwarranted and non-transparent. Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he wanted to keep…

Bringing Moore’s Law Off the Desktop and Into the Cloud By Intel CEO at Consumer Electronics Show

Published on January 7, 2014 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/Innovation/Wireless by Drew Clark

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2014 – Just six months on the job, the new CEO of Silicon Valley computing giant Intel came to the International Consumer Electronics Show here to hail the power of tiny.

“Most of my career, computing has been something that you hold in your hand, in your pocket, or that sits on a desk,” said CEO Brian Krzanich. “That idea is about to be transformed.”

“We are entering this tiny world,” he said, referring to the Intel Tri-Gate three-dimensional 22 nanometer transistor, and “tiny could not be better.” Future advances toward 14 nanometer transistors are in the works, he said.

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Utah Poised to Be First State With Large-Scale Gigabit Networks: Speakers at Utah Broadband Summit

Published on October 28, 2013 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/FCC/Fiber/Infrastructure by Drew Clark

PROVO, Utah, October 28, 2013 – The prospect and reality of Gigabit Networks throughout the country, beginning in Utah, are “creating bigger surface areas for the mind,” the chief technology officer of US IGNITE said here on Thursday. Speaking at the Utah Broadband Summit here in Provo — selected a Gigabit city six months ago…

Panel Analyzes Benefits and Challenges of Cloud Computing for Government Agencies

Published on July 12, 2013 in Broadband's Impact/Congress/Cybersecurity/House of Representatives/Privacy by Josh Evans

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 – A panel of experts discussed the potential for the use of cloud computing by federal agencies at an event held by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation on Wednesday morning. The security of cloud computing was a primary concern for many of the panelists. Matt Wood, General Manager of Data…

‘Big Data’ Plus Big Broadband Equals Better Government and Private Sector Services, Say ITIF Panelists

Published on January 25, 2013 in Broadband and Democratization/Cybersecurity/Social Media by Doug Barclay

WASHINGTON, January 25, 2013 – Data-sharing in a broadband-enabled world enables greater productivity for the government and the private sector, said officials at the first annual “Data Innovation Day” hosted Thursday by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Representatives from Amazon Web Services and the U.S. Department of Education touched on a common thread that…

The Future of Privacy in a Social Media and Networking World

Published on April 19, 2012 in Broadband and Democratization/Cybersecurity/Media/Privacy/Social Media/Transparency by Chris Naoum

WASHINGTON Thursday April 19, 2012 – First search, then social media, and now privacy concerns? The digital world has transformed the way consumers access content; one can search an article they are interested in, subscribe to Google Reader, follow a friend’s recommendation from Twitter or read an article a co worker read via the Washington…

GOP Proposes SECURE IT Act and Chairman Genachowski Speaks About Cybersecurity at the Bipartisan Policy Center

Published on March 5, 2012 in Congress/Cybersecurity/FCC/Senate by Daniel Havivi

WASHINGTON March 5, 2012. Since our Broadband Breakfast Panel Discussion on “Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand” a couple of weeks ago there have been some notable cybersecurity headlines that we wanted to update you on. Since the panel, GOP Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Saxby…

February 2012 Breakfast Club Recap: Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress, Performance Measures and Critical Infrastructure

Published on February 23, 2012 in Broadband TV/Congress/Cybersecurity/Senate by Chris Naoum

WASHINGTON, February 23, 2012 – Last week, after years of congressional hearings and dozens of legislative drafts, The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 S.2105. Senators Lieberman, Collins, Rockefeller and Feinstein introduced the bi-partisan legislation following a year of high profile cyberattacks on the Senate, CIA, FBI, Utility…

Timely Broadband Breakfast Panel to Take Place on the Eve of FCC Chairman’s Cybersecurity Address

Published on February 20, 2012 in Broadband Events/Congress/Cybersecurity/FCC/House of Representatives/Senate by Chris Naoum

WASHINGTON February 20, 2012. Broadband Breakfast will host its February Breakfast Panel, Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand?, the day before FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski delivers his remarks on cybersecurity at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Broadband Breakfast’s panel will focus on the efforts to move cybersecurity on the Hill after years and years…

BroadbandBreakfast.com Hosts Broadband Breakfast Club Event ‘Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand?’ Tuesday, February 21st, in Washington, DC

Published on February 17, 2012 in Cybersecurity/Press Releases by Sylvia V Syracuse

WASHINGTON, Friday, February 17th, 2012 – The internet policy news and events service BroadbandBreakfast.com will hold its February 2012 Broadband Breakfast Club event. “Cybersecurity Legislation in Congress: Where Does it Stand?” on Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 at Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 from 8 am – 10 am. American…

Driving Energy Smart Grid Innovation through Broadband

Published on November 16, 2011 in Broadband TV/Cybersecurity/Fiber/Recovery Act/Rural Utilities Service/Smart Grid/States by Chris Naoum

WASHINGTON, Wednesday November 15, 2011 – November’s breakfast and panel discussion drew a packed crowd Tuesday morning as industry lawyers, lobbyists and experts filed into Clyde’s to hear from the Whitehouse, telecoms, energy management companies and utilities about the challenges and efficiencies that lies ahead with “The Smart Grid and Broadband.”

Event Highlights

“The Smart Grid and Broadband” from BroadbandBreakfast.com

Complete Program

“The Smart Grid and Broadband” from BroadbandBreakfast.com

Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor to White House’s Chief Technology Officer gave the opening remarks at the breakfast. Sinai focused on what the Obama administration is doing to support, secure and modernize the energy system for the country. He noted that although the current grid has expanded, it is fundamentally still an analog grid and has been that way since the beginning of the 20^th century.

ValidSoft CEO Talks Privacy Technology

Published on August 3, 2011 in Cybersecurity/Europe/International/North America/Privacy by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2011 – U.S. customers may soon begin seeing data security technology involving ATMs and cell phones that would work without tracking people thanks to the efforts of a European security software company.

Patrick Carroll, CEO of ValidSoft Limited, discussed the company’s real-time fraud detection software VALid-POS last week. The program is already in the works to be deployed through a deal with Visa Europe. Carroll believes his firm’s technology answers current privacy issues lawmakers and industry professionals have been trying to tackle for several years.

Langevin Makes the Case for Establishment of White House Cyber Security Director

Published on July 20, 2011 in Cybersecurity by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011 – Despite bipartisan agreement over the need for effective cyber security legislation, members remain divided over authority and enforcement specifics.

In an opinion piece in the Saturday edition of the Washington Post, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) critiqued another article published early July in which Sens. Joe Liebermann (ID-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tom Carper (D-DE) recommended proposed legislation that would grant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statutory authority to work with industry to identify and evaluate critical cyber infrastructure and establish best practices between government and the private sector in order to improve security.

Pentagon Announces Buildup of Cyber Defenses

Published on July 18, 2011 in Cybersecurity by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2011 – The Defense Department announced late last week a plan to proactively deal with cyber intrusions through a collaborative buildup of civilian and military network defenses.

The DoD Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace (DSOC) is the first unified strategy for conducting operations in cyberspace between the Defense Department’s military, intelligence and business operations. The DoD is coordinating its cyber security efforts with the Department of Homeland Security and private companies responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure through threat information sharing and more robust network protection. The program is called Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Cyber Pilot.

FTC and DOJ Forum: Child ID Theft By Family Members Most Damaging

Published on July 13, 2011 in Cybersecurity/Privacy by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2011 – Child ID Theft more commonly occurs via organized crime, but the most severe damage happens when done by family members, experts concluded at a joint Child ID Theft forum Tuesday.

Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice held the forum one day after hacktivist group ‘Anonymous’ attacked U.S. government security contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton, resulting in the theft of 90,000 military email addresses.

Senate Considers Recommendations for Data Privacy and Security Bills

Published on July 1, 2011 in Cybersecurity/Privacy by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2011 – The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee assembled Wednesday its third hearing this legislative session on data privacy and security.

In a hearing rushed so that members could make it to the Senate floor in time to vote, members and witnesses from government agencies and private sector entities testifying before the senate committee reiterated support for federal data security legislation. Consumer privacy bills such as the Do Not Track Online Act of 2011, Commercial Bill of Rights Act of 2011 and reintroduction of the Data Security and Breach Notification Act are all currently before the committee.

Federalist Society Explores Legal Issues Surrounding Cyber Conflict

Published on June 30, 2011 in Cybersecurity by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2011 – The Federalist Society convened Tuesday to discuss the complex and interconnected legal and policy issues of cyber security in relation to the law of armed conflict, privacy and legislative action.

Morning and afternoon panels comprised of national security and economic security experts presented to the legal society the difficulties of applying the law of armed conflict towards cyber threats. The new threat conditions introduced by cyber intrusions and attacks do not fit the old paradigm of doing warfare. Panelists agreed, however, that the new rules should not be determined before major cyber conflicts have taken place.

Center for American Progress Panelists Explore FTC’s Role in Child Privacy Protection

Published on June 28, 2011 in Cybersecurity/Privacy by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 – A Center for American Progress panel assembled Monday explored the challenges presented by emerging Internet technology privacy issues with respect to Federal Trade Commission enforcement, child safety and free speech rights.

Julie Brill, FTC Commissioner, addressed private sector and government solutions for protecting consumer data privacy in her keynote speech to a packed house of policy analysts, advocacy groups and government officials at the Center’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

Senate Subcommittee Evaluates Administration’s Cybersecurity Legislation Proposals

Published on June 22, 2011 in Congress/Cybersecurity/Senate by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011 – The Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism evaluated the Obama administration’s cyber security legislation proposal with respect to its own proposed cyber security proposals during a hearing Tuesday.

Subcommittee members discussed with executive branch representatives the elements of the administration’s proposals to improve cyber security and individual privacy. Among the topics of the hearing were national data breach standards, the voluntary information sharing proposal and the recommendations for increased criminal penalties against cyber crime committed against critical infrastructure and racketeering.

Foreign Policy Research Institute Holds Cybersecurity Talk

Published on June 17, 2011 in Cybersecurity/House of Representatives/International by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2011 –,The Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute presented expertise on the emerging threat in cyberspace Thursday to journalists, private sector industry leaders, government officials and strategists in Washington.

Lawrence Husick, Senior Fellow at Foreign Policy Research Institute’s (FPRI) Center on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism, offered his expertise on leveraging technology as a defining characteristic of the modern terrorist. His presentation centered on the rapidly evolving nature of cyber attacks, and the lack of a comprehensive private sector cybersecurity initiative.

House Subcommittee Debates Cyber Theft Measure

Published on June 16, 2011 in Congress/Cybersecurity/House of Representatives by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2011 – Just days after Senate email accounts were hacked, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing Wednesday to discuss a draft bill that would require companies to minimize the amount of data collected from consumers and notify them within two days of a data breach.

Subcommittee members met with witnesses to clarify the ambiguous language of a discussion draft of Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mary Bono Mack’s (R-CA) Secure and Fortify (SAFE) Data Act. The measure addresses the increasing threat of data theft, in the wake of high-profile cyber attacks on Sony, Epsilon, Lockheed-Martin and other U.S. companies.

Commerce Dept. Recommends Public-Private Partnership on Cybersecurity

Published on June 9, 2011 in Cybersecurity/International by Rahul Gaitonde

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2011 – The Department of Commerce released its Cybersecurity, Innovation and the Internet Economy green paper on Wednesday, advising cooperation between the government and private sector to implement ways to address cybersecurity issues.

The Internet Policy Taskforce, a department-wide group created in April 2010, wrote the green paper with the goal of addressing the pressing issues surrounding cyber security.

Leahy Introduces Data Security Bill

Published on June 8, 2011 in Congress/Cybersecurity/Senate by Rahul Gaitonde

WASHINGTON June 8, 2011 – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, re-introduced a bill Tuesday that would establish a national standard for the notification to consumers by corporations when data breaches occur.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) cosponsored the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, a reiteration of bills by the same name that have failed in each of the three previous Congresses.

U.N. Special Rapporteur: Internet Censorship Violation of Basic Human Rights

Published on June 6, 2011 in Broadband's Impact/Cybersecurity/International by Josh Peterson

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2011 – The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, presented his report on freedom of expression and the Internet to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, concluding that Internet access is a basic human right.

In what was hailed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation as a ‘landmark report,’ La Rue’s report also declared that disconnecting individuals from the Internet goes against international law.

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