What’s Happening with the US FCC Potentially Regulating BGP

In case you missed it, in early April, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Declaratory Ruling and Order in the Open Internet Proceeding. While largely about net neutrality, among its 435 pages, the FCC implies its intention to regulate Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). 

In response, the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) and the Internet Society (ISOC) issued a joint filing indicating multiple reasons regulating BGP and routing security will not be effective and may in fact cause real harm to the Internet. 

You can read our full joint filing here: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/104170760417493/1?_gl=1*s5bpvr*_gcl_au*MTQ0ODYzOTg2Ny4xNzE0MzA4ODQy

You can also read:

• GCA’s blog post: https://globalcyberalliance.org/bgp-regulation-wont-help/
• ISOC’s blog post: https://www.internetsociety.org/blog/2024/04/the-us-fcc-signals-a-dangerous-new-course-on-bgp-security/

There are also two news articles, in Inside Cybersecurity and CyberScoop, both of which may be paywalled. From the CyberScoop article:

“We too would like a secure routing system,” said Leslie Daigle, chief technology officer at the Global Cyber Alliance. “It would be great to see more support for the industry-led effort to achieve that end rather than having to regulate it.”

This topic, fundamental for the future of routing security globally, will be a central part of the discussions of our next MANRS Community Meeting on 15 May. If you are a MANRS participant, please check your inbox and use the available links to register and join this important discussion. If you are a MANRS participant and cannot find your invitation email, contact us.