Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to conduct a study of the national security risks posed by consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine a modem and router, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The ROUTERS Act is a plan for the government to check if internet gadgets like routers and modems, especially those from certain other countries, might have security problems. They want to study this and tell the important government groups within a year.
Summary AI
S. 4572, known as the "Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act" or the "ROUTERS Act," is a bill directing the Secretary of Commerce to study potential national security risks from consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine the two. The focus is on those that are associated with foreign countries of concern, as defined in U.S. law. The Secretary must complete the study and submit a report to both the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce within one year of the bill's enactment.
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AnalysisAI
Overview of the Bill
The proposed legislation, known as the "Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act" or the "ROUTERS Act," aims to address potential national security risks associated with consumer routers and modems. Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on these risks, particularly focusing on devices that originate from countries considered as "covered countries" under U.S. law. The findings of this study are to be reported to congressional committees within one year.
Significant Issues
A notable challenge with the bill is its reliance on the term "covered country," which refers to a definition found elsewhere in the U.S. Code. This cross-referencing could create confusion for those trying to understand the full implication of the bill, as they would need to track down and interpret that definition. Additionally, the structural setup where the Secretary acts through an Assistant Secretary may introduce unnecessary bureaucratic complexity. This could potentially slow the process, affecting the timeliness of addressing security concerns.
Another concern is the ambiguity regarding how the study will be conducted. The lack of specific criteria and methodology for assessing the risks could lead to subjective interpretations and varied outcomes. Furthermore, the one-year timeline for reporting findings might be seen as too long for addressing urgent national security threats.
Potential Impacts on the Public
For the general public, this bill underscores the federal government’s increasing focus on ensuring the digital infrastructure's integrity, given the ubiquitous use of routers and modems in homes and businesses. By investigating potential vulnerabilities, the government aims to safeguard citizens from risks that could emerge from compromised technology. The outcome of the study could lead to increased consumer confidence if actionable steps are taken to secure vulnerable devices.
Stakeholder Impacts
For manufacturers and suppliers of consumer routers and modems, especially those operating in or linked to "covered countries," the bill could signal increased scrutiny and potential regulatory barriers. Companies might face pressure to demonstrate that their products meet national security standards, impacting their operational and market strategies.
On the other hand, cybersecurity experts and policy makers could view this bill as a positive step towards strengthening national security. The findings could provide a valuable basis for legislative and regulatory changes in technology security standards, pushing the industry towards higher security norms.
In conclusion, while the ROUTERS Act seeks to address critical national security needs, the execution details—such as definitions, study criteria, and timelines—will significantly influence its effectiveness and reception among varied stakeholders.
Issues
The lack of detailed context in Section 1 makes it difficult to understand the full scope and implications of the bill. This lack of transparency could affect public perception and ultimately the bill's acceptance or implementation.
In Section 2, the term 'covered country' references another section of the United States Code, which requires additional research to fully comprehend the bill's reach and target. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation among stakeholders, affecting the bill's support and understanding.
The bill outlines that the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary, is responsible for conducting the study, which may create an unnecessary bureaucratic layer and potentially slow down the process. This could affect the bill's efficiency and the timely address of national security concerns.
The study of national security risks in Section 2 lacks specific criteria for assessing the risks posed by routers and modems. This vagueness could lead to subjective interpretations, undermining the study's credibility and policy outcomes.
The timeline for the report submission to Congress is set at one year as stated in Section 2. Given the urgency associated with national security threats, this period might be considered excessive, potentially delaying necessary actions to mitigate identified risks.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill indicates that its official short title is the “Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security Act,” also known as the “ROUTERS Act.”
2. Study of national security risks posed by certain routers and modems Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the national security risks that could come from routers and modems made or supplied by companies tied to certain countries. Within a year, the findings have to be reported to specific committees in the Senate and House of Representatives.