House · HR 1717 · 119th Congress
Communications Security Act
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Summary
This bill tells the FCC to set up a formal advisory council on communications network safety and reliability. The council must include members from the tech industry, universities, and all levels of government. Companies linked to foreign enemies cannot join the council.
In Favor
Right now, the FCC's advisory council has no permanent legal standing and could be shut down after two years. This bill gives the council a stable legal foundation so it can keep working on long-term network safety issues. Americans who rely on phone and internet service benefit from steady expert advice to the FCC.
Against
This bill gives the FCC chair sole power to pick all council members and to decide which companies are trustworthy. That much control in one person's hands could shape advice in a one-sided way. The council also never expires, so there is no built-in check on whether it still serves the public well.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill tells the Federal Communications Commission to set up or name an advisory council to give advice on making communications networks more secure, reliable, and able to work together.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The provisions stay on topic, focusing on creating the council, setting membership rules, requiring reports, and making the council permanent.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Communications companies, public interest groups, colleges, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments would send members to the council and follow its membership rules.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not authorize a specific dollar amount. It shifts duties onto the FCC to form the council, manage membership, and post public reports on its website.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The chair must vet all members and bar any entity linked to a foreign adversary, which requires ongoing review of each member's ties and could slow the process of filling seats.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026