This article perpetuate­s the myth that the cyber security bill sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Collins would authorize a “kill switch” that would allow the President to shut down the Internet.

The reality is that the legislatio­n would make it far less likely for a President to use the broad authority he already has in current law to take over communicat­ions networks. Section 706 of the Communicat­ions Act of 1934 provides nearly unchecked authority to the President to “cause the closing of any facility or station for wire communicat­ion” and “authorize the use of control of any such facility or station” by the Federal government­.

The Senators’ legislatio­n would bring Presidenti­al authority to respond to a major cyber attack into the 21st century by providing a precise, targeted, and focused way for the President to defend our most sensitive infrastruc­ture. The bill does not authorize the government to “take over” critical infrastruc­ture nor does it authorize any new surveillan­ce authoritie­s.

The President would be required to provide advance notice to Congress of the intent to declare a national cyber emergency or as soon as possible after a declaratio­n, with reasons why advance notice was not possible.

Not a kill switch: http://tin­yurl.com/2­5qxpms