Sept. 1, 2009
Rockefeller’s Office Responds to Cyber Terrorism Bill
Legislation Does NOT Empower Governmental Takeover, Shut Down of Internet; Statement is
False
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Over the weekend, the internet went buzzing following an article by a CNET reporter that expressed concerns that, as written, proposed legislation making its way through the Commerce Committee could allow the internet to be a President Obama power grab.
At the time of the publication of the article and several commentaries that followed, the reports stated that no one from Sen. Rockefeller’s office was available to respond.
Jessica Tice, WV State Press Secretary in the Office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, denied the “shut down the internet” assumption and issued the following statement to HNN on Monday, August 31:
“The President of the United States has always had the Constitutional authority, and duty, to protect the American people and direct the national response to any emergency that threatens the security and safety of the United States.
"The Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity bill makes it clear that the President’s authority includes securing our national cyber infrastructure from attack.
"The section of the bill that addresses this issue, applies specifically to the national response to a severe attack or natural disaster. This particular legislative language is based on longstanding statutory authorities for wartime use of communications networks.
"To be very clear, the Rockefeller-Snowe bill will not empower a 'government shut down or takeover of the internet' and any suggestion otherwise is misleading and false. The purpose of this language is to clarify how the President directs the public-private response to a crisis, secure our economy and safeguard our financial networks, protect the American people, their privacy and civil liberties, and coordinate the government’s response.
"Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Snowe are deeply committed to transparency and an open exchange of ideas in crafting this legislation.”
The CNET and internet commentators focused on Section 201 of SB 773, which direct the national response to the cyber threat” for “the national defense and security” including an immediate threat to “strategic national interests” by , (5) “directing the periodic mapping of Federal Government and United States critical infrastructure information systems or networks, and shall develop metries (sic) to measure the effectiveness of the mapping processes.”
Earlier, Jena Longo, deputy communication director of the Senate Commerce Committee released an email statement to CNET.com, which stated:
“The president of the United States has always had the constitutional authority, and duty, to protect the American people and direct the national response to any emergency that threatens the security and safety of the United States. The Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity bill makes it clear that the president's authority includes securing our national cyber infrastructure from attack. The section of the bill that addresses this issue, applies specifically to the national response to a severe attack or natural disaster. This particular legislative language is based on longstanding statutory authorities for wartime use of communications networks. To be very clear, the Rockefeller-Snowe bill will not empower a "government shutdown or takeover of the Internet" and any suggestion otherwise is misleading and false. The purpose of this language is to clarify how the president directs the public-private response to a crisis, secure our economy and safeguard our financial networks, protect the American people, their privacy and civil liberties, and coordinate the government's response.”
During the weekend, one of the internet’s most popular news sites, The Drudge Report, headlined that the Rockefeller-Snowe bill would endanger the free flow of information and by implication could be used to marginalize dissent.
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Rockefeller’s Office Responds to Cyber Terrorism Bill
Legislation Does NOT Empower Governmental Takeover, Shut Down of Internet; Statement is
False
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Over the weekend, the internet went buzzing following an article by a CNET reporter that expressed concerns that, as written, proposed legislation making its way through the Commerce Committee could allow the internet to be a President Obama power grab.
At the time of the publication of the article and several commentaries that followed, the reports stated that no one from Sen. Rockefeller’s office was available to respond.
Jessica Tice, WV State Press Secretary in the Office of Sen. Jay Rockefeller, denied the “shut down the internet” assumption and issued the following statement to HNN on Monday, August 31:
“The President of the United States has always had the Constitutional authority, and duty, to protect the American people and direct the national response to any emergency that threatens the security and safety of the United States.
"The Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity bill makes it clear that the President’s authority includes securing our national cyber infrastructure from attack.
"The section of the bill that addresses this issue, applies specifically to the national response to a severe attack or natural disaster. This particular legislative language is based on longstanding statutory authorities for wartime use of communications networks.
"To be very clear, the Rockefeller-Snowe bill will not empower a 'government shut down or takeover of the internet' and any suggestion otherwise is misleading and false. The purpose of this language is to clarify how the President directs the public-private response to a crisis, secure our economy and safeguard our financial networks, protect the American people, their privacy and civil liberties, and coordinate the government’s response.
"Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Snowe are deeply committed to transparency and an open exchange of ideas in crafting this legislation.”
The CNET and internet commentators focused on Section 201 of SB 773, which direct the national response to the cyber threat” for “the national defense and security” including an immediate threat to “strategic national interests” by , (5) “directing the periodic mapping of Federal Government and United States critical infrastructure information systems or networks, and shall develop metries (sic) to measure the effectiveness of the mapping processes.”
Earlier, Jena Longo, deputy communication director of the Senate Commerce Committee released an email statement to CNET.com, which stated:
“The president of the United States has always had the constitutional authority, and duty, to protect the American people and direct the national response to any emergency that threatens the security and safety of the United States. The Rockefeller-Snowe Cybersecurity bill makes it clear that the president's authority includes securing our national cyber infrastructure from attack. The section of the bill that addresses this issue, applies specifically to the national response to a severe attack or natural disaster. This particular legislative language is based on longstanding statutory authorities for wartime use of communications networks. To be very clear, the Rockefeller-Snowe bill will not empower a "government shutdown or takeover of the Internet" and any suggestion otherwise is misleading and false. The purpose of this language is to clarify how the president directs the public-private response to a crisis, secure our economy and safeguard our financial networks, protect the American people, their privacy and civil liberties, and coordinate the government's response.”
During the weekend, one of the internet’s most popular news sites, The Drudge Report, headlined that the Rockefeller-Snowe bill would endanger the free flow of information and by implication could be used to marginalize dissent.
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Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
