Thornberry pushes shared information for cybersecurity

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, said Wednesday he wants to allow private Internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon to more closely monitor Internet traffic by sharing information.
“What we’re trying to do is free up some of the restrictions that prevent (Internet service providers) from sharing what they’re seeing with what others are seeing so you have even a bigger view of what’s happening,” Thornberry said at a luncheon with business owners at the Region 16 Service Center, 5800 S. Bell St., where AT&T public policy director Pat Foster also spoke.
Thornberry is heading a congressional task force to address looming national cybersecurity concerns. In addition to allowing Internet providers to share information, the task force also recommended Congress consider extending tax credits and providing other voluntary incentives for Internet providers to bolster security measures. He said he considers cybersecurity a top concern for U.S. officials.
“Towards the beginning of this Congress, House Speaker John Boehner came to talk to me and basically said, ‘I’ve been through enough of these intelligence briefings to believe this country has a real problem with cybersecurity,’” Thornberry said.

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