[House Report 119-194]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-194
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COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ACT
_______
July 10, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Guthrie, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1717]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (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, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Committee Action................................................. 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Oversight Findings and Recommendations........................... 5
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 5
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 5
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 5
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 5
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 5
Related Committee and Subcommittee Hearings...................... 5
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 6
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....... 6
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 6
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 6
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 6
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 7
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 1717, the Communications Security Act, was introduced
on February 27, 2025, by Representative Robert Menendez (D-NJ).
The bill directs the Chair of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to establish a committee to advise the
Commission on issues related to the security, reliability, and
interoperability of communications networks, if such committee
is not in current operation.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The FCC established the Communications Security,
Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) to ``provide
recommendations to the Commission regarding best practices and
actions the Commission can take to ensure optimal security,
reliability, and interoperability of commercial and public
safety communications.''\1\ A hallmark of the body has been the
collaboration between representatives from private industry,
government, and other stakeholders in a forum that facilitates
information sharing and the advancement of important issues.\2\
CSRIC has been rechartered in two-year increments since 2009
with new membership, working groups, and issues, including most
recently in March 2024.\3\
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\1\Federal Communications Commission, FCC Announces First Meeting
of the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability
Council (CSRIC) Scheduled for December 7, 2009, at FCC Headquarters,
Public Notice, DA 09-2429 (Nov. 17, 2009).
\2\ John Marinho, CSRIC: A Crucial Cybersecurity Partnership
Protecting Wireless Consumers, and Federal Agencies, CTIA Blog (March
10, 2021) (available at www.ctia.org/news/blog-csric-a-crucial-
cybersecurity-partnership-protecting-wireless-consumers-and-federal-
agencies).
\3\Federal Communications Commission, FCC Announces Intent to Re-
Establish the Communications Security, Reliability, and
Interoperability Council and Solicits Nominations for Membership,
Public Notice, DA 23-1187 (Dec. 20, 2023).
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Experts have indicated the importance to the information
and communications technology sector of advancing and
strengthening existing government partnerships--especially
those between agencies in the Commerce Department, the FCC, and
the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).\4\ The legislation would
advance that goal by making CSRIC a permanent advisory council
to the FCC, without making changes to the purpose or operations
of the body.
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\4\Testimony of Clete Johnson, Hearing on A Safe Wireless Future:
Securing Our Networks and Supply Chains, United States House of
Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology (June 30, 2021).
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COMMITTEE ACTION
The Committee on Energy and Commerce held the following
hearing in the development of this legislation during the 119th
Congress.
On January 23, 2025, the Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology held a hearing. The title of the hearing was
``Strengthening American Leadership in Wireless Technology.''
The Subcommittee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
Michael K. Powell, President & CEO, NCTA--
The Internet & Television Association;
Brad Gillen, Executive Vice President,
CTIA--The Wireless Association;
Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN
Policy Coalition; and
Chris Lewis, President & CEO, Public
Knowledge.
On April 8, 2025, the full Committee on Energy and Commerce
met in open markup session and ordered H.R. 1717, without
amendment, favorably reported to the House by a record vote of
50-1.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the
record votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. The following reflects the record vote taken during
the Committee consideration:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII, the Committee held a hearing and made findings that
are reflected in this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that H.R. 1717 would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII, at the time this
report was filed, the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not available.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to
permanently establish the Communications Security, Reliability,
and Interoperability Council for the purpose of developing best
practices and advising the Chair of the Federal Communications
Commission on issues related to Communications Security,
Reliability and Interoperability.
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 1717 is known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
RELATED COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
hearing was used to develop H.R. 1717:
On January 23, 2025, the Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology held a hearing. The title of the hearing was
``Strengthening American Leadership in Wireless Technology.''
The Subcommittee received testimony from the following
witnesses:
Michael K. Powell, President & CEO, NCTA--
The Internet & Television Association;
Brad Gillen, Executive Vice President,
CTIA--The Wireless Association;
Diane Rinaldo, Executive Director, Open RAN
Policy Coalition; and
Chris Lewis, President & CEO, Public
Knowledge.
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the time this report was
filed, the estimate was not available.
EARMARK, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 1717 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
One advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Sec.1. Short title
Section 1 designates that the short title may be cited as
the ``Communications Security Act''.
Sec. 2. Council on Communications Security, Reliability, and
Interoperability
Section 2 directs the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) to establish, within 90 days, a council (Council)
to advise the Commission on, among other things, the security,
reliability, and interoperability of communications networks,
or, alternatively, to designate any committee operating on the
date of enactment for purposes of the statute and to make any
necessary changes to membership in accordance with the
legislation.
It provides that the Chair of the Commission (Chair) can
appoint members to the council, which, to the extent
practicable, shall be composed of representatives from
companies in the communications industry, except those
companies determined by the Chair to be not trusted;
representatives from public interest or academia, except from
organizations or institutions determined by the Chair to be not
trusted; and representatives of the Federal government, state
and local government, and Tribal governments. Members shall
have the relevant knowledge and expertise on issues related to
the mission of the Council. The legislation also provides that
members' terms shall last two years, and that if there is a
vacancy the term shall last until the end of the previous term,
or a successor is named.
The legislation also requires the Council to submit reports
to the Chair every two years, and the reports shall be made
public on the Commission's website. Finally, it specifies that
Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act
regarding termination of advisory committee's shall not apply
to the Council, and it defines terms used in the legislation,
including ``not trusted.''
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
This legislation does not amend any existing Federal
statute.
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