Trade Group’s Comments Identify Unique Challenges Facing Smaller ISPs
PITTSBURGH, November 6, 2015 – As the non-governmental Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO) Standards Organization (SO) starts the process under its contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of developing effective standards for the creation and functioning of ISAOs, the American Cable Association responded to the invitation to submit public comments by offering its thoughts on how best to ensure the robust participation of small and medium-sized businesses, including smaller ISPs, to improve the nation’s cybersecurity.
“We applaud the ISAO Standards Organization’s efforts in conjunction with DHS to obtain public input in developing standards for the establishment and operation of ISAOs, including the views of the American Cable Association on ensuring its smaller ISP members can participate and share information in these organizations vital to identifying and defending against emerging cyber threats,” ACA President and CEO Matthew M. Polka said.
As part of the government’s focus on improving cybersecurity, President Obama issued an Executive Order (EO) entitled “Promoting Private Sector Cybersecurity Information Sharing” on Feb. 13. The EO directed DHS to “strongly encourage” the development and formation of ISAOs by entering into a cooperative agreement with a nongovernmental organization to serve as the ISAO Standards Organization that would identify a common set of voluntary standards and guidelines that “further the goal of creating robust information sharing related to cybersecurity risks and incidents.” The SO selected by DHS is led by the University of Texas at San Antonio with support from the Logistics Management Institute and the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center.
ACA filed comments on Nov. 4 with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Cybersecurity and Communications in anticipation of the ISAO SO’s initial public meeting on Nov. 9. ACA’s comments discussed the important role that small businesses play in the broader cyber ecosystem, and encouraged the SO to consider how its standards could encourage participation in ISAOs by small companies and organizations with limited resources.
About the American Cable Association: Based in Pittsburgh, the American Cable Association is a trade organization representing nearly 850 smaller and medium-sized, independent cable companies who provide broadband services for nearly 7 million cable subscribers primarily located in rural and smaller suburban markets across America. Through active participation in the regulatory and legislative process in Washington, D.C., ACA’s members work together to advance the interests of their customers and ensure the future competitiveness and viability of their business. For more information, visit https://acaconnects.org/