Bill would grant Oblome power to shut down the Internet

[Joe]

Check out this bill introduced on April Fool’s Day 2009, by West Virginia Democratic Sen. John Rockefeller and Sen. Olympia Snowe:

Links:

http://edge.networkworld.com/graphics/2009/0402%20Rockefeller%20cybersecurity%20bill.pdf

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s773/show

http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/4/3/4142495.html

Synopsis:

‘‘Cybersecurity Act of 2009’’

Starting on the bottom of page 43:

17 SEC. 18. CYBERSECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY.

The President—

(1) within 1 year after the date of enactmentof this Act, shall develop and implement a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy, which shall include—
(A) a long-term vision of the nation’s cybersecurity future; and
(B) a plan that encompasses all aspects of national security, including the participation of the private sector, including critical infrastructure operators and managers;
(2) may declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic to and from any compromised Federal government or United States critical infrastructure information system or network;

[Joe]

I don't think it was a prank. I checked around before posting to confirm it's authenticity. It looked legit to me. If my wording of my original post sounded like I was saying it was a prank, that was unintended.