FCC to Reverse Network Security Mandates in Shift Towards Industry Voluntarism
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to reverse a network security mandate that was established during the Biden administration, instead opting for a voluntary approach championed by industry leaders.
In January 2025, the FCC issued a declaratory ruling requiring telecom providers to secure their networks from unauthorized access or interception of communications, citing the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). However, under the leadership of Chairman Brendan Carr, the agency is now planning to rescind this rule in November, based on feedback from major lobby groups representing internet service providers.
Industry leaders argue that CALEA only obligates carriers to facilitate lawful intercepts from law enforcement and that the FCC lacks authority to promulgate technical standards. In contrast, industry giants such as Verizon and AT&T have taken significant steps to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
The FCC will instead rely on these voluntary commitments, which include accelerated patching of outdated equipment, updated access controls, and improved threat-hunting efforts. These measures, according to the agency, represent a "significant change in cybersecurity practices" compared to what existed before.
Critics have argued that this approach is insufficient, as it fails to provide clear guidelines for carriers and leaves them vulnerable to cyber threats. Former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel defended the original rule, stating that it was "common sense" and necessary to secure networks against unlawful access.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is poised to reverse a network security mandate that was established during the Biden administration, instead opting for a voluntary approach championed by industry leaders.
In January 2025, the FCC issued a declaratory ruling requiring telecom providers to secure their networks from unauthorized access or interception of communications, citing the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). However, under the leadership of Chairman Brendan Carr, the agency is now planning to rescind this rule in November, based on feedback from major lobby groups representing internet service providers.
Industry leaders argue that CALEA only obligates carriers to facilitate lawful intercepts from law enforcement and that the FCC lacks authority to promulgate technical standards. In contrast, industry giants such as Verizon and AT&T have taken significant steps to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
The FCC will instead rely on these voluntary commitments, which include accelerated patching of outdated equipment, updated access controls, and improved threat-hunting efforts. These measures, according to the agency, represent a "significant change in cybersecurity practices" compared to what existed before.
Critics have argued that this approach is insufficient, as it fails to provide clear guidelines for carriers and leaves them vulnerable to cyber threats. Former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel defended the original rule, stating that it was "common sense" and necessary to secure networks against unlawful access.
. I mean, we're already living in a world where our personal info is being hacked left and right, and now we're gonna let the industry leaders just sort of... deal with it? 
It's like they expect telecom providers to be like superheroes or something 
. And what about the regular people who can't even keep up with the latest patching and security measures? They'll be the ones getting hurt 
. I'm all for giving industry leaders some wiggle room, but come on... this is just gonna lead to more problems down the line 
.
shouldn't we have some kinda guarantee that our personal info is protected online? 
and btw, i thought the idea of CALEA was to ensure law enforcement gets access when they need it, not to let carriers slack off on security 
. It feels like we're just throwing our hands up in the air and saying "good luck" to the telecom providers 
.
I'm so confused about this new FCC decision 
". Like, what if they don't? 
. Now it's all up to Verizon and AT&T to police themselves 
. It just doesn't feel right 
.
I mean, I get that industry leaders want more control over their own cybersecurity practices, but isn't this just gonna leave us all high and dry when it comes to keeping our info safe from hackers? 
what's wrong with having some clear guidelines for the telcos? they can definitely handle taking care of their own security without needing the FCC's push 
and btw, how are those big carriers like Verizon and AT&T doing on cybersecurity, anyway? if it's not good enough for them to be considered a leader in this space... 
. It feels like we're putting all our eggs in one basket by relying on industry giants being responsible, which isn't always a guarantee. What if they get hacked too? 
The government's role is to set some ground rules and ensure the big players are playing fair. I'm hoping they can find that sweet spot where they're not stifling innovation but still keeping us safe 