Former FCC Public Safety Bureau Chief Blasts Pai's Shift Away From Cybersecurity Role

Chairman Ajit Pai’s recent moves to shift the FCC away from a role in cybersecurity policy are a “dangerous departure” from President Donald Trump’s “aggressive cybersecurity policy” stance, said former Public Safety Bureau Chief David Simpson in Morning Consult. Pai reversed a Simpson-authored white paper on communications sector cybersecurity regulation and a notice of inquiry on cybersecurity for 5G devices (see 1702060062 and 1702060059), among other moves (see 1702030070). Pai halted cybersecurity provisions in ISP privacy rules, Simpson wrote. The “greatest concern” will be the FCC’s future “benign neglect” of cybersecurity, he said. Simpson noted Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s testimony last week before the Senate Commerce Committee that the commission has “extremely limited” statutory authority over cybersecurity absent a clear directive (see 1703080070). “Addressing cybersecurity early is smart policy,” Simpson said. “It leads to more robust, resilient and cost-efficient services. ... This is a national security and emergency preparedness requirement.” He criticized the communications sector’s “self-serving theory” that the Department of Homeland Security should take over oversight of the sector’s cybersecurity. Expanding DHS’ oversight “with no regulatory authority over the commercial communications sector, will be expensive, doomed to failure or both,” Simpson said. Trump can reverse FCC “cyber indifference” by in part making cybersecurity a “whole of government” priority that includes the FCC and FTC in the National Security Council’s assessment of cyber risk, Simpson said. He encouraged stakeholders to “demand a more effective dialog between congressional committees with cybersecurity risk responsibilities." The FCC didn’t comment.