NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2049
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-03T13:34:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act (S. 2049) aims to strengthen the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)'s role in developing policies for communications technologies, with a focus on cybersecurity, innovation, and digital inclusion. It establishes a dedicated office to coordinate these efforts, ensuring better analysis, advocacy, and collaboration on internet and communications issues.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Office: Creates the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity within NTIA, led by an Associate Administrator who reports to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
- Core Duties of the Office:
- Oversee national policy analysis and development for internet and communications technologies.
- Develop and advocate for market-based policies that boost innovation, competition, consumer access, digital inclusion (efforts to ensure equitable technology access), workforce development, and economic growth in communications, media, and tech sectors.
- Conduct studies on how people in the U.S. use internet, phone services, media, and digital/video services, as directed by the Assistant Secretary or Congress.
- Coordinate multistakeholder processes (involving industry, experts, and government) to create guidance on cybersecurity and privacy for internet and communications networks.
- Promote collaboration between security researchers and communications service/software providers.
- Support programs to prevent vulnerabilities in communications networks, including secure supply chains.
- Advocate for policies enhancing network security and resilience against cyber incidents while encouraging innovation.
- Provide advice to the Assistant Secretary on cybersecurity matters, including impacts on policies before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), other agencies, or Congress.
- Develop policies to speed up innovation and commercialization of communications tech advances.
- Identify and address barriers to trust, security, innovation, and commercialization (e.g., access to funding), especially for small businesses and rural areas.
- Offer public access to data, research, and technical help on innovation and commercialization, while protecting sensitive information.
- Foster coordination on innovation policies within the Department of Commerce, with state agencies, the FCC, and other federal entities, focusing on small businesses and rural communities.
- Gather feedback from small and rural communications providers.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Part A of Title I of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) by adding a new Section 106 to establish the office and define its duties.
- Redesignates the existing position of Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development as Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity; the current officeholder automatically transitions to the new role without interruption.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances NTIA's capacity to lead on cybersecurity and policy, improving coordination with the FCC, Department of Commerce, and other agencies; may increase NTIA's influence in congressional and regulatory discussions on digital security.
- On Citizens: Could lead to better consumer protections, improved internet access, and stronger defenses against cyber threats, benefiting everyday users of digital services; supports digital inclusion for underserved groups, including rural communities.
- On International Relations: Promotes secure communications supply chains, potentially reducing risks from foreign vulnerabilities and aligning U.S. policies with global standards for tech security and innovation, though it focuses primarily on domestic efforts.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Government Entities: NTIA, Department of Commerce, FCC, Congress, and state agencies involved in tech policy.
- Industry and Businesses: Communications service providers (especially small and rural ones), tech innovators, software developers, security researchers, and media companies, who gain policy support, collaboration opportunities, and resources for innovation.
- Citizens and Communities: Consumers, digital workers, and rural/small business owners, through policies aimed at access, privacy, and economic growth.
- Other Groups: Multistakeholder participants (e.g., privacy advocates, cybersecurity experts) in policy development processes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expands NTIA's statutory authority in cybersecurity without creating new enforcement powers, relying on advisory and coordination roles; integrates with existing laws like the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 for vulnerability prevention.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; aligns with Congress's commerce clause authority over interstate communications and technology, emphasizing voluntary multistakeholder processes over mandates.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Sens. Hickenlooper, Capito, Curtis, and Blunt Rochester) signals broad support for addressing cybersecurity threats and digital innovation amid rising concerns over national security and economic competitiveness; referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for further review, potentially influencing future tech policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-06-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act — issued 2025-06-12 — PDF (6 pages)