Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech global communications networks, applauded the House passage of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) and called for swift Senate action to improve the nation's cybersecurity.

TIA President Grant Seiffert commented, "CISPA strikes the right balance between strong cyber protection and a flexible, innovation-friendly framework. The legislation takes a significant step forward in safeguarding consumers and businesses from increasingly aggressive and sophisticated cyber attacks. At the same time, it establishes a collaborative approach that won't introduce heavy bureaucracy that could harm high tech innovation. The relationship between government and industry that this bill supports is critical to the current and future economic success and security of America."

"CISPA gained bipartisan support in the House and we encourage the Senate to act quickly to consider this bill," Seiffert continued. "The ICT industry plays an important role in detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber threats faced by U.S. institutions and businesses. Legislation that goes beyond the flexible and collaborative approach taken by CISPA could both undermine industry's effort to fight cyber crime and generally harm American innovation."

Last week, TIA sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urging them to support cybersecurity measures that protect U.S. innovation and reflect the borderless, global nature of today's cyber threats.

The letter — which can be viewed in its entirety here — encourages members of Congress to focus on the following policy goals and legislation:

• Improving Information-Sharing. Ensure that the private sector has access to information necessary to defend against cyber attacks, protect the private sector from liability for its efforts to improve cybersecurity, and support existing information-sharing and analysis organizations. TIA supports the Cyber Intelligence Sharing Protection Act (H.R. 3523).
• Supporting Cybersecurity Research and Development. Increase federal cybersecurity R&D activities to complement the significant efforts already being made by the ICT industry in this area. TIA supports the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (H.R. 2096), and also supports the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act (H.R. 3834).
• FISMA Reform. TIA supports efforts to improve and harmonize cybersecurity programs across government agencies. In doing so, Congress should focus on the security practices of agencies and their personnel while avoiding ICT security standard requirements that could prove disruptive to the ICT supply chain.
• Improving Public Awareness Through Education. TIA strongly supports federal efforts to increase awareness of cybersecurity issues among both institutional users and the general public.

About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the manufacturers and suppliers of global information and communications technology (ICT) networks through standards development, policy and advocacy, business opportunities, market intelligence, and events and networking. Since 1924, TIA has been enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members' products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment, and entertainment. Visit tiaonline.org.

Join TIA at its annual Member Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, TIA 2012: Inside the Network, June 5-7, 2012 in Dallas. For details go to tia2012.org. Register today!

TIA's 2012 Market Review & Forecast, is available for purchase online at the TIA store. Review copies are available for qualified media.

View video news programming on TIA NOW at tianow.org.

TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Read ANSI's report, "Standards Boost Business" at standardsboostbusiness.org/.

TIA's Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ACS Solutions, ADTRAN, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Dow Chemical Company, Ericsson, Inc., FAL Associates, GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, Juniper Networks, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation, LGE, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, Motorola Solutions, Nokia Siemens Networks, Numerex Corp., OneChip Photonics, Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Qualcomm, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corporation, Tarana Wireless, Inc., Tellabs, TE Connectivity, Walker and Associates, and WirefreeCom, Inc.