GAO Says Agencies Should Improve Cyber Sharing With States; Pai, Krebs Agree

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs suggested states give communications workers access and resources to keep Americans connected during COVID-19. GAO said Wednesday the IRS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration and FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services need to improve coordination on cybersecurity requirements for state agencies exchanging data with federal agencies. States, territories and Washington, D.C., should declare many communications sector entities as essential services during the pandemic, including broadcasters and MVPDs, Pai and Krebs wrote governors and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Other essential services should include telecom relay services, “businesses and personnel that provide communications support to medical and healthcare facilities, assisted care and living facilities, and people with disabilities,” public safety communications infrastructure, ISPs, mobile carriers, undersea cable operators, satellite providers and companies building communications infrastructure, GAO said. Pai and Krebs said to “consider prioritizing the distribution of personal protective equipment to communications personnel when availability permits” and “understand that communications retail customer service personnel at service center locations are critical for onboarding customers, distributing and repairing equipment, and addressing customer issues to support individuals’ remote emergency communications needs.” Pai and Krebs asked governors to “facilitate the maintenance, repair, and provisioning of communications infrastructure and services by providing online access to relevant government functions.”