Washington's Telecom Cop Seeks New Beat: Cybersecurity.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking a larger role in cybersecurity to protect cable and wireless networks from online threats. The FCC's new net neutrality order, which recently advanced in a 3-2 vote, includes provisions that aim to give the agency more authority in safeguarding the internet's infrastructure from ransomware, denial-of-service attacks, and state-sponsored hacks. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's cybersecurity agenda aligns with this effort, as she aims to play a more active role in policing the infrastructure that carries various types of data. The order does not provide specific details on how the FCC will strengthen network defenses, but it suggests that regulating broadband access as a public utility would grant the agency more power to secure less-regulated parts of the internet. Critics argue that the FCC's involvement in network security duplicates the efforts of other agencies and that broadband companies have the expertise to address vulnerabilities themselves. [Extracted from the article]