Cybersecurity Policy Report, House Commerce Plans Markup of Bills Addressing Data Security, Privacy, (Apr 2, 2025)

By Jeff Williams

Bills addressing the privacy of Internet of things devices and communications security are scheduled to be marked up next Tuesday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (HR 859), introduced by Reps. Russ Fulcher (R., Idaho) and Seth Moulton (D., Mass.), would require the Federal Trade Commission to establish disclosure guidelines for Internet-connected devices that are not obviously equipped with a camera or recording capabilities, such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers (CPR, Feb. 7).

The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act (HR 906), introduced by Reps. Thomas Kean (R., N.J.), Rob Wittman (R., Va.), Kathy Castor (D., Fla.), and Ro Khanna (D., Calif.), would require the FCC to publicly identify entities owned, wholly or in part, by foreign adversarial governments that hold FCC licenses, authorizations, or other grants of authority (CPR, Jan. 27).

The Secure Space Act (HR 2458), introduced by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.), chairman of the committee, and Frank Pallone (D., N.J.), the ranking member, would prohibit the FCC from granting a license or U.S. market access for a geostationary satellite orbit or non-geostationary satellite orbit system or earth station if they are held or controlled by an entity that produces or provides equipment or services that are considered unsecure under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.

The Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act (HR 866) would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to study the national security risks posed by some foreign-made routers and modems. Reps. Bob Latta (R., Ohio) and Robin Kelly (D., Ill.) introduced the bill (CPR, Jan. 31).

The Communications Security Act (HR 1717), introduced by Reps. Rob Menendez (D., N.J.) and John Joyce (R., Pa.), would codify the FCC’s existing Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Advisory Council.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has already approved companion versions of the Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act (S 28) and the ROUTERS Act (S 244).

The markup is scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

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