A group of telecommunications industry leaders chartered by
the federal government has presented to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) a list of best practices to
ensure the physical and cyber security of public networks
and the Internet.
The Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC)
has endorsed a set of recommendations for network
operators, equipment manufacturers and service providers to
preserve networks during manmade or natural disruptions.
The best practices focus on preventing attacks through new
technology, access controls, design and construction
methods, inventory management, auditing, surveillance and
integration of security in business plans.
The council, created in 1992, received a charter from FCC
Chairman Michael Powell in 2002 for what was called a
matter of national security. The NRIC is a 56-member panel
consisting of representatives from cable, wireless,
satellite and Internet providers as well as carriers and
equipment manufacturers.
The group says the best practices are voluntary, but
several officials emphasized that the alternative would be
mandates in the form of government regulation. The NRIC’s
list of best practices can be accessed at HREF=http://www.nric.org>www.nric.org.
