Communications Security Act
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a permanent advisory council tasked with protecting the nation's phone, mobile, and internet networks from cyber threats, technical breakdowns, and foreign interference. The panel will include representatives from telecom companies, research groups, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments, while strictly barring any entity tied to a foreign adversary or deemed a national security risk. Every two years, the council must publish public reports detailing recommendations to make communications infrastructure more secure and reliable.
What this bill touches.
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Communications industry companies, academic institutions, and public interest groupsGain formal advisory representation to the FCC on communications network security, reliability, and interoperability through two-year appointments to the council (Sec. 2(b)(2)(A), (B), (b)(4)).
- State, local, and Tribal governmentsGuaranteed at least one representative each on the council advising the FCC on communications network security, reliability, and interoperability (Sec. 2(b)(2)(C)).
Who it burdens
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Must establish or designate an advisory council within 90 days, appoint members, receive biennial reports, and publish the council's reports on the agency website (Sec. 2(a), (b)(1), (c)(2)).
Who opposes it
- Foreign-influenced or national security threat entitiesExplicitly barred from participating or having representatives appointed to the FCC's communications security advisory council (Sec. 2(b)(2)(A), (B), (e)(4)).
The provisions, in plain language.
Show all 5 provisions
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish an advisory council—or designate an existing advisory committee—within 90 days to advise on the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks.
Directs the FCC Chair to appoint qualified council members for two-year terms from the communications industry, academia, public interest groups, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments, while barring any entities determined to be foreign-controlled or national security threats.
Requires the council to submit reports and recommendations to the FCC Chair at least every two years on improving communications network security, reliability, and interoperability.
Requires the FCC to post all council and working group reports publicly on the agency's website.
Exempts the advisory council from standard federal advisory committee termination rules, allowing it to operate indefinitely.
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish an advisory council—or designate an existing advisory committee—within 90 days to advise on the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks.
Directs the FCC Chair to appoint qualified council members for two-year terms from the communications industry, academia, public interest groups, and federal, state, local, and tribal governments, while barring any entities determined to be foreign-controlled or national security threats.
Requires the council to submit reports and recommendations to the FCC Chair at least every two years on improving communications network security, reliability, and interoperability.
How your members of Congress line up
How members voted on Communications Security Act.
Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.
How it moved.
Show all 15 actions
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 - 33 (Roll no. 196). (text: 7/14/2025 CR 3218-3219)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 - 33 (Roll no. 196).
- Considered as unfinished business.
- At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1717.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3218-3220)
- Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 158.
- Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-194.
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 50 - 1.
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 - 33 (Roll no. 196). (text: 7/14/2025 CR 3218-3219)
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 380 - 33 (Roll no. 196).
- Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-194.
- Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 50 - 1.
- Introduced in House
Read it for yourself.
Sources & provenance
Cite this page
Civic Herald. “Communications Security Act (H.R. 1717, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-1717. Congress.gov record as of Jul 13, 2026.