Media Contact:  
Carolyn Roddy
Carolyn.Roddy@fcc.gov
 
For Immediate Release 
 
COMMISSIONER SIMINGTON SPEAKS AT IGF-USA 2021

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2021— Today FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington participated in a fireside chat concerning supply chain security at IGF-USA 2021, sponsored by the Internet Governance Forum USA.  

Noting that 5G deployment would accelerate a proliferation of wireless IoT devices that could be subject to hacking and interference, Commissioner Simington stated:

“Cybersecurity, understood as treatment of the software and human threat surfaces, is within the capable remit of other government agencies, but physical layer security of wireless devices—that is, not just securing networks, but securing the radio frequency signal between the device and the network, or between the device and another device—is within the competency of the FCC.  It would be a dereliction of our duty not to critically examine the issue, and do what we can to harden the wireless network infrastructure on which we all rely, and on which we will come to further rely as we transition to 5G.  

And so, we must. 

This means working closely with industry to set standards for physical layer and signal security; it means guarding against intentional interference signal injection; it means validating the source of a transmission at the device level; it means taking the spectrum component of security not as promised, but as carefully vouchsafed.  It means close coordination among government agencies and industry to develop a product ecosystem that secures our vulnerable devices, from critical infrastructure down to consumer electronics.” 

Further information about the event may be found at: igfusa.us/igf-usa-2021/
 
 
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Office of Commissioner Simington / @SimingtonFCC / www.fcc.gov/leadership/nathan-simington 
 
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).