Former FCC security head Simpson: Include cyber upfront in telecom and transportation infrastructure bills

Congress has an opportunity to build-in cybersecurity from the start in a major infrastructure package, according to David Simpson, the former homeland security chief at the Federal Communications Commission, who says lawmakers should give sector-specific agencies “affirmative” direction to craft cyber rules to accompany expanding broadband service and other features of the legislation.

“Cybersecurity needs to be an included element as Congress funds new information infrastructure,” Simpson told Inside Cybersecurity. “Ignoring the introduction of known cyber risk factors to regions...