My Computer Mechanic

The Government Is Still Trying to Control the Internet

Now the White House Has a Plan!

As many of you know, I have been following a variety of proposals in Congress whose goal is to control the Internet. You can read these previous newsletter articles here & here.

Now, under a White House plan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have far-reaching oversight over all civilian agency computer networks. The proposal would codify much of the administration's memo from July 2010 expanding DHS's cyber responsibilities.

The legislation is large & complex. It will create a huge & expensive National Center for Cybersecurity & Communications in the DHS. It will give DHS much of the Federal Information Security Management Act authorities that currently fall under the Office of Management & Budget (OMB). Do I need to remind you how ineffective & inefficient DHS is with most of its responsibilities? Many Senators & Representatives have argued repeatedly that DHS is unable to fulfill its existing mission.

I suspect that this legislation in its current form will create the most wasteful & ineffective federal government agency ever. But that is not the worst of it!

This legislation allows the DHS Secretary to decide what "critical infrastructure" is. It states that owners & operators of critical infrastructure shall submit to the standards that the DHS will come up with. Are you kidding me? This means that "critical infrastructure" can be ANYTHING! This would allow the federal government to get their fingers into any company that it deems "critical"!

Not only will the federal government have their fingers in the "critical" private sector business, but with regulations that no federal agency has shown the ability to keep up with the rapid changes in technology.

The legislation continues to move through interagency review, and there is no stated timetable for moving it to Congress for formal consideration. When it gets there, I will let you know, and what you can do to influence your elected officials.