Bill Overview
Title: Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council Act
Description: This bill provides statutory authority and sets forth membership requirements for a council that provides advice and recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission regarding ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. The bill further stipulates that an existing advisory committee may constitute the council if, within 90 days, the committee's membership aligns with the membership requirements for the council.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: People worldwide using communication networks
Estimated Size: 332000000
- The bill establishes a council focused on improving communications networks, which are critical to everyday communication for both personal and business purposes.
- Everyone who uses telecommunications in any form relies on networks that need to be secure and reliable.
- The reliability and interoperability of communication networks affect sectors like emergency services, businesses, and personal communication.
- Approximately 8 billion people worldwide use some form of communication technology.
- Not all users will be directly affected immediately, but the improvements aimed by this council will eventually impact all users.
Reasoning
- The policy targets improving communication networks, which impacts nearly everyone in the U.S., given that almost all citizens use some form of telecommunications daily.
- Immediate and direct impacts might be more noticeable in sectors like emergency services, large businesses, and areas with previous connectivity issues.
- Assessing individual self-reported wellbeing scores can show how indirectly affected the population might perceive improvements in communication services over time.
- Given the budget constraints and widespread nature of communication networks, improvements may not be immediately tangible to everyone, and thus long-term assessments are crucial.
- Actual changes in perceived wellbeing related to smoother, safer, and more reliable communications could take years to manifest fully.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (New York City, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having a dedicated council to focus on network security and reliability is really important, especially as someone who works remotely.
- It may not change my daily life immediately, but peace of mind regarding network security is valuable.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Emergency Services Dispatcher (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds promising for my job because reliable networks are crucial to my work as a dispatcher.
- If the network reliability improves, it could make a real difference.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a business owner, reliable internet is crucial for my operations.
- I hope the council can address issues that currently cause disruptions, like outages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired (Rural Kansas)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any improvements to network coverage in my area would be welcome as we're often left behind.
- I hope this results in more consistent and accessible internet options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT Manager (Boston, MA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislative focus could help standardize and enhance network security measures, which is a constant focus in my role.
- I see potential benefits in corporate settings for this policy.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Social Media Influencer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think any improvement to connectivity and security is a plus since my career depends on it.
- Though it's hard to say exactly how much I would notice the changes.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a student, I rely on good internet for my studies and entertainment.
- If this leads to fewer outages and better speed, that'd be awesome.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'd like to hope this council ensures that older people can access reliable communication networks too, as it becomes increasingly important.
- I don't expect immediate changes but anything helps as technology evolves.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Healthcare Professional (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reliable network connections are crucial for accessing electronic healthcare systems at work.
- Any improvements would directly benefit my work efficiency and patient care.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Government Employee (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to seeing how this council's recommendations are implemented and any resulting policy adjustments.
- While I've managed so far, any advancements would be positive for the integrity of information exchange.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The incremental operational costs are likely manageable within existing FCC funding structures.
- Potential security and operational improvements in communications infrastructure could lead to significant long-term economic benefits.