Bill Overview
Title: Securing Global Telecommunications Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State develop and submit to Congress a strategy to promote the use of secure telecommunication infrastructure in countries other than the United States. The State Department must also report to Congress on (1) efforts by China and Russia to advance authoritarian interests or oppose fair, industry-led processes at the International Telecommunication Union, the U.N. agency involved with setting telecommunications standards and related regulatory activities; and (2) opportunities for greater collaboration with allies and partners to promote secure information and communications technology infrastructure in countries other than the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Manning, Kathy E. [D-NC-6]
Target Audience
Population: Global telecommunications users
Estimated Size: 0
- The bill focuses primarily on promoting secure telecommunications infrastructure in countries other than the United States.
- The emphasis is on developing strategies for secure telecommunication systems that would likely impact global telecommunications users, particularly in countries vulnerable to insecure telecommunication practices.
- The bill addresses international efforts to combat authoritarian influences in the telecommunications sector such as those from China and Russia, impacting global geopolitics and telecom industries.
- The global target population includes all individuals who use telecommunications systems and may benefit from increased global telecommunications security.
Reasoning
- The proposed policy does not directly affect American citizens since its focus is on international telecommunication infrastructure.
- Most Americans may not perceive immediate changes or benefits to their daily telecom activities.
- Some groups, such as those interested in international business or global politics, may follow the policy's impact more closely.
- The Cantril wellbeing scale, which assesses perceived quality of life, may not drastically change for most individuals due to the policy, except for long-term security and geopolitical stability considerations.
Simulated Interviews
International Business Consultant (New York City, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could streamline my work by ensuring secure communication channels in international projects.
- It seems like a necessary step in countering geopolitical telecom influences from Russia and China.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy leads to more stable global communications networks.
- Indirect benefits to American cybersecurity might be significant over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Telecommunication Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a strategic move to secure telecom globally, which can indirectly enhance U.S. infrastructure.
- It would be great if the policy includes capacity building in emerging markets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Academic - International Relations (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is important for balancing global communication influences.
- National security indirectly affects individual wellbeing by promoting stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student - Cybersecurity (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Strategically promoting telecom security can reduce cyber threats long-term.
- Interested to see how this policy will influence the security curriculum.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think enhancing global telecom security is a smart move.
- Even as a retiree, I see the ripple effects it could have on privacy and security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Global NGO Worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Promoting telecom security in developing regions is crucial.
- This policy could facilitate more secure communications in my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Telecom Industry Executive (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will strongly influence global telecom market dynamics.
- Could strategically benefit U.S.-based telecom firms in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Tech Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a fascinating policy proposal with potential global impacts.
- It will be important to monitor how it affects the U.S. telecom sector over time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
IT Support Specialist (Dallas, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While not directly impacting my work, it's a necessary focus for future security.
- As a tech enthusiast, the international telecom scene interests me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 3: $110000000 (Low: $85000000, High: $130000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- International cooperation is necessary to enhance global telecommunications security effectively.
- The geopolitical landscape involving telecommunications is sensitive and requires careful navigation to avoid exacerbating tensions.
- Long-term diplomatic efforts and alliances may mitigate the costs and amplify the effectiveness of U.S. investments in this area.