http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10040101-38.html By Stephanie Condon Politics and Law CNET News September 12, 2008 WASHINGTON -- The potential for "cybersecurity" attacks on the United State's electric power grids has spurred politicians to consider legislation to broaden federal authority over electric companies. Congress already has been consulting with federal agencies and industry associations over how to craft such legislation. On Thursday, legislators sought further input at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce's subcommittee on energy and air quality. Industry representatives endorsed the idea of strengthening federal authority in the event of an imminent cybersecurity threat but cautioned against expanding the government's powers too broadly. "We understand the seriousness of the issue and the need to deal with it," said Susan Kelly, a vice president for the American Public Power Association. "At the same time, we believe that such legislation must be carefully drawn." The draft legislation under consideration would expand the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which already regulates the nation's bulk power system as allowed by the Federal Power Act. A final draft of the bill will likely be considered by the committee next week, following a classified briefing with intelligence agencies, said Rep. Rick Boucher, chairman of the subcommittee. The proposed law could require any owner, user, or operator of the bulk power system to abide by interim measures established by the FERC to address current security threats until FERC could address the threats under its normal protocol. It would also grant the FERC the ability to issue orders to owners of the bulk power system at the directive of the White House, either through the president or the secretary of energy. [...] __________________________________________________ Register now for HITBSecConf2008 - Malaysia! With a new triple-track conference featuring 4 keynote speakers and over 35 international experts, this is the largest network security event in Asia and the Middle East! http://conference.hackinthebox.org/hitbsecconf2008kl/Received on Sun Sep 14 2008 - 23:22:09 PDT
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