H.R. 1717 · Passed House · Science, Technology, Communications

Communications Security Act

What it does

Provides statutory authority for an FCC council that advises on the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks.
Allows the FCC to designate an existing advisory committee for the role if its membership is adjusted to meet the bill's requirements.
Requires members from communications companies, public interest or academic institutions, and federal, state, tribal, and local governments, chosen by the FCC chair.
Generally bars representatives of entities owned, controlled, or influenced by a foreign adversary or otherwise deemed a national security threat.
Exempts the council from the usual two-year termination rule for federal advisory committees.

Official summary

Communications Security Act This bill provides statutory authority for a council established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide advice regarding the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. (This advice is currently provided by the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council.) The bill specifies that the FCC may designate an existing advisory committee to fulfill this role, provided the committee’s membership is modified, as necessary, to comply with membership requirements set forth in the bill. Specifically, the bill requires the council to include, to the extent practicable, representatives of companies in the communications industry; public interest organizations or academic institutions; and federal, state, tribal, and local governments (with at least one member representing each level of government). Members are to be selected by the FCC's chair and generally may not include representatives of entities owned or controlled by, or subject to the influence of, a foreign adversary, or otherwise deemed to pose a threat to U.S. national security. Under current law, federal advisory committees must…

Latest action

Jul 16, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation