H.R.3479 - Safeguarding Essential Cables through Undersea Risk Elimination American Telecommunications Act; SECURE American Telecommunications Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 3479, the SECURE American Telecommunications Act, aims to improve the licensing and security of submarine and cross-border terrestrial telecommunications cables. It shifts licensing authority for submarine cables from the President to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and introduces security standards. The bill also addresses terrestrial cables, establishing licensing requirements and streamlining the permitting process.
Expected Effects
This act will likely increase the security of telecommunications infrastructure by mandating minimum security standards and requiring incident reporting. It may also streamline the permitting process, potentially speeding up the deployment and repair of critical infrastructure. The Act also strengthens penalties for damaging submarine cables.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security through improved cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure.
- Streamlined permitting processes, potentially reducing delays in deploying and repairing telecommunications cables.
- Increased protection of submarine cables from damage, ensuring more reliable communication networks.
- Promotion of international cooperation on cable security standards.
- Modernization of regulations to address contemporary cybersecurity threats.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased regulatory burden on telecommunications companies.
- Possible delays in license approvals due to new security requirements.
- Potential conflicts with existing international agreements or norms.
- Increased costs for companies to comply with new security standards.
- Possible preemption of state and local environmental regulations.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) by regulating interstate and foreign commerce related to telecommunications. It also aligns with the Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) by enacting laws necessary to carry out the powers vested in the government. The delegation of authority to the FCC is a common practice and generally upheld as long as Congress provides clear standards.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).