DHS official says ISPs would likely be covered by Obama cybersecurity plan

{mosads}National Institute for Standards and Technology senior Internet policy adviser Ari Schwartz avoided discussing the specifics of the bill’s implementation, arguing that existing best practices would significantly improve security. 

Schwartz said DHS would sort out what’s covered under the legislation but added that some aspects of firms’ businesses may be considered critical infrastructure under the bill while others wouldn’t be. He said ISPs may face security regulation for some of their products and services but not all of them.

The administration’s proposal and a series of high-profile data breaches in recent months have built momentum for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, but reaching a bipartisan compromise that can pass both chambers remains an uphill task.

A number of committees in the Senate have expressed interest in the issue, while House Republicans have yet to tip their hand as to how they would protect private-sector networks.