STATEMENT OF
FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN
Re:  Cyber Security Certification Program, Notice of Inquiry, PS Docket No. 10-93
Our Nation’s economic prosperity depends on increased deployment and adoption of 
broadband services; but that prosperity, as well as the safety and security of our Nation’s citizens, 
will be compromised if our broadband networks are not secure.  When you consider that our 
Nation’s networks have become more susceptible to cyber crime, and that $7 trillion worth of 
transactions – half of our Nation’s Gross Domestic Product for 2009 -- moves over 
communications networks, it is plain that we must take immediate action to enhance our cyber 
security.  
 
I was very pleased to see the urgency that the National Broadband Plan placed on 
developing a national cyber security strategy within 180 days.  I am even more encouraged by the 
Commission adopting this Notice of Inquiry on the Cyber Security Certification Program in our 
first open meeting after announcing the Plan.  By moving so quickly to enhance our Nation’s 
cyber security, the Commission places the security and safety interests of our Nation’s citizens at 
the head of the line – exactly where they should be.  
This Notice of Inquiry takes a prudent, careful, and comprehensive approach, to 
determining the best methods to encourage communications service providers to implement best 
practices in cyber security.  As recently as November 2009, the National Security Agency 
estimated that as much as 80 percent of cyber crime could be prevented by simply instituting 
proper configuration policies and conducting good network monitoring.  One solution is to ensure 
that cyber security best practices are being implemented.  Therefore, I believe the item wisely 
recommends a certification program that can efficiently enhance the development of the proper 
network objectives and technical criteria for achieving the most secure communications 
networks; ensure accurate information about the extent to which service providers are 
implementing cyber security best practices; and create the proper incentives for small and large 
service providers to voluntarily adopt these best practices.  
I applaud the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau for its excellent work in 
crafting this Notice of Inquiry.