FCC Proposal to Combat Cyberattacks

Date: Thursday, [insert date]
Source: Reuters
Location: Washington

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed that communication service providers submit an annual certification confirming their cybersecurity plans. This initiative responds to cyberattacks from a group of hackers allegedly backed by Beijing, known as "Salt Typhoon," which have infiltrated U.S. telecommunications companies to steal data on American calls.

"While the Commission's counterparts in the intelligence community are determining the scope and impact of the Salt Typhoon attack, we need to put in place a modern framework to help companies secure their networks and better prevent and respond to cyberattacks in the future," said Rosenworcel in a statement.

The espionage campaign by Salt Typhoon has raised significant concerns in Washington. Rosenworcel’s proposal was made public following a classified briefing held by U.S. government agencies for all senators regarding the hacking incidents.

A senior U.S. official has reported that a substantial amount of Americans' metadata was compromised, with hackers breaching at least eight telecommunications and infrastructure firms across the country.

Rosenworcel's proposal is currently under review by other FCC commissioners and could be implemented immediately if approved. A request for comment from Commissioner Brendan Carr, who is slated to replace Rosenworcel, was not answered. Major telecom companies like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile also did not respond to requests for comment.