Posted on 08/28/2009 4:16:57 PM PDT by Morgana
What if the federal government could temporarily suspend Internet activity during national cyber attacks, much in the same way it can ground planes during national emergencies?
That's basically the question surrounding S.773, the forthcoming brainchild of Sen. Jay Rockefeller's (D-W.V.) office. According to an excerpt of the bill, obtained by CBS News' Declan McCullagh, the president would have the power to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" and, "if the President finds it necessary for the national defense and security,… direct the national response to the cyber threat."
But the proposal, which addresses a host of additional cybersecurity holes, has already worried tech wonks, who fret its ambiguity. As Larry Clinton, president of the Internet Security Alliance, told CBS:
(Excerpt) Read more at briefingroom.thehill.com ...
Beckley
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FReepers you know what to do! Tell carpet bagger Rockefeller to stay off our computers...and while he is at it....get out of West Virginia!!!!!
Rockefeller for “Head on Pike” award!
“FReepers you know what to do! Tell carpet bagger Rockefeller to stay off our computers...”
That goes for OLYMPIA SNOWE too!!!
But, it would never happen. Today's hacker community is so sophisticated, they would be able to bypass any suspension pretty easily, not to mention having offshore servers, etc. Its just gov't looking for one more way to squelch free speech.
Hackers won't stand for it. And neither should you.
There is no way any normal person could be in favor of this bill. During an emergency is a time when the internet is the most import!! It’s not the time to shut it down!!
Who ever said the democrats were normal?????
Why not have a “Telephone Security Bill” or a “Newspaper Securtiy Bill.”
Anytime you hear brain child and Democrat; or brain child and Congressman in the same sentence, run like hell.
If you hear brainchild and Democratic congressman in the same sentence, you know it is a t*rd in the making.
During an emergency is a time when the internet is the most import!!The bill includes 'telecommunications' which would cover everything ... including your ability to use texting and cellular voice comms ...
Think Pakisan-style shutdown of wireless communications like Musharraf did when he flew into or out of an area/city ...
They are still in the planing stage.
“Mack Daddy the Zebra”and his merry band of thieves and liars want to control EVERYTHING.
Yes I know....I do wish all FReepers would call, write, whatever and tell Rockefeller this!!!!! I suspect he is getting old and feeble like Byrd and has forgotten!!!!
We must fight it.
When even Mother Jones commenters see the threat of this bill, I hope it will be DOA.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/04/should-obama-control-internet
Rokefellar is a security risk, a turd in a punch bowl.
another bill to kill
Here is the entire bill link
“[STAFF WORKING DRAFT]
MARCH 31, 2009”
http://cdt.org/security/CYBERSEC4.pdf
51 pages
Page 44
The President may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network
1978...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX3Dr5EltDM
There is NO legitimate reason to shut down a form of communication.
Don’t tell me this...tell the carpet bagger this!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
ALL OF YOU!!!!
This reminds me of one of those horror movies where the phone line goes dead.
Anybody still have their ‘HAM’ radio liscense ?
Notice how the ‘crats and some ‘pubs always go after that piece of paper called the Constitution??
Are CB radios still around or are there restrictions on them, too?
The only time there is any reason to shut down communications is when we launch an attack into another nation and shut their communications down.
Was just thinking that. There must be 50 million CB radios in attics.
That ought to tell you somethin...
And what about this Civilian Army...
Things that make you go hmmm.....
We will listen to rush on short wave radio!!!
The government that intentionally cuts off internet access to its citizens for political purposes is declaring war on them. All gloves would be off. Guerilla actions would be justified.
Every day a new assault on freedom for American citizens by democrats. It's getting old and people are getting fed up with it. It's as if they are pushing to find the line where there is utterly no more tolerance of them, their ideals and their activist, socialist, communist and anti-American agenda.
Did Bush actually have the authority to ground planes or was he counting on voluntary cooperation?
W E 4 I
If the President finds it necessary for the national defense and security ?
This is about neither. If and when there is a move to take over the country ? You cannot risk it having the ability to communicate. We must be blinded as well. So goes TV & Radio. Best keep your peeps & ears open while you still can.
Bought my CC Short wave almost a year ago for that purpose.
SEC. 5. STATE AND REGIONAL CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) CREATION AND SUPPORT OF CYBERSECURITY CENTERS- The Secretary of Commerce shall provide assistance for the creation and support of Regional Cybersecurity Centers for the promotion and implementation of cybersecurity standards. Each Center shall be affiliated with a United States-based nonprofit institution or organization, or consortium thereof, that applies for and is awarded financial assistance under this section.
FWIW, most of the bill makes sense and seems intended to enhance security by establishing standards and thru education. However, the restrictions of work to those licensed by the gov’t for private uses and the extension of power of anything the president deems critical is a power I would not want anyone to have and it would likely be unconstitutional anyways.
From the bill:
SEC. 23. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ADVISORY PANEL- The term ‘Advisory Panel’ means the Cybersecurity Advisory Panel established or designated under section 3.
(2) CYBER- The term ‘cyber’ means—
(A) any process, program, or protocol relating to the use of the Internet or an intranet, automatic data processing or transmission, or telecommunication via the Internet or an intranet; and
(B) any matter relating to, or involving the use of, computers or computer networks.
(3) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND UNITED STATES CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS- The term ‘Federal Government and United States critical infrastructure information systems and networks’ includes—
(A) Federal Government information systems and networks; and
(B) State, local, and nongovernmental information systems and networks in the United States designated by the President as critical infrastructure information systems and networks.
(4) INTERNET- The term ‘Internet’ has the meaning given that term by section 4(4) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503(4)).
(5) NETWORK- The term ‘network’ has the meaning given that term by section 4(5) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5503(5)).
>> Why not have a “Telephone Security Bill”
This is effectively a communications bill especially with the VOIP type phone services many people are using.
the definition of a network refers to 15,5503(5) which in turn refers to 15,5512;
(c) Network characteristics
The Network shall—
(1) be developed and deployed with the computer, telecommunications, and information industries;
(2) be designed, developed, and operated in collaboration with potential users in government, industry, and research institutions and educational institutions;
(3) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner which fosters and maintains competition and private sector investment in high-speed data networking within the telecommunications industry;
(4) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner which promotes research and development leading to development of commercial data communications and telecommunications standards, whose development will encourage the establishment of privately operated high-speed commercial networks;
(5) be designed and operated so as to ensure the continued application of laws that provide network and information resources security measures, including those that protect copyright and other intellectual property rights, and those that control access to data bases and protect national security;
(6) have accounting mechanisms which allow users or groups of users to be charged for their usage of copyrighted materials available over the Network and, where appropriate and technically feasible, for their usage of the Network;
(7) ensure the interoperability of Federal and non-Federal computer networks, to the extent appropriate, in a way that allows autonomy for each component network;
(8) be developed by purchasing standard commercial transmission and network services from vendors whenever feasible, and by contracting for customized services when not feasible, in order to minimize Federal investment in network hardware;
(9) support research and development of networking software and hardware; and
(10) serve as a test bed for further research and development of high-capacity and high-speed computing networks and demonstrate how advanced computers, high-capacity and high-speed computing networks, and data bases can improve the national information infrastructure.
(4) “Internet” means the international computer network of both Federal and non-Federal interoperable data networks;
(5) “Network” means a computer network referred to as the National Research and Education Network established under section 5512 of this title;
Lets see how that works out for the Obambi thugocracy.
I agree.
That was a national emergancy. That was justified.
You are not just whistling dixie!!! The Third American Revolution.
I think Thomas Payne wrote all about this in “Common Sense”....
The President may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised'network' could, and can, and will mean anything ...Federal government or
United States
a) critical infrastructure information system or
b) network
Exactly. Let’s just call him Hugo.
The Network shall—Bye by texting ...(1) be developed and deployed with the computer, telecommunications, and information industries;
Think it's inconvenient when you get a 'system busy' during a really intense rush hour or during a thunderstorm on your Blackberry or cell phone?
Think Pakistan-style infrastructure-wide 'block' of services ...
Are CB radios still around or are there restrictions on them, too?Too late; that spectrum was auctioned off to, uh, China I think ...
KIDDING!!
Well, you never know! LOL
Guess what I meant was are the frequencies still available for ordinary people to use-—they took us from analog to digital to supposedly clear up air waves. Wondered if there are fewer to use now. Did that make sense?
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