[p?c1=2&c2=1000004&cv=2.0&cj=1] Byron Wien’s Warning: Correction Coming! Watch Video Now Welcome, Guest * Register * Sign In * Member Center * Sign Out * Register * Sign In Symbol / Company____ Go Symbol Lookup Loading... >> View All Results for "" Enter multiple symbols separated by commas London quotes now available ____________________ Go Click Here! * HOME * NEWS + U.S. + Asia + Europe + Economy + Energy + Inside Wealth + Politics + Technology + Blogs + Slideshows + Special Reports + Corrections * MARKETS + Pre-Markets + US + Europe + Asia + Stocks + Commodities + Currencies + Bonds + Funds + ETFs * EARNINGS + Calendar + Surprises + Highlights * INVESTING + Stock Blog + Personal Finance + CNBC Explains + Portfolio + Watchlist + Stock Screener + Fund Screener * Small Business + Franchising + Financing + Management + Video * VIDEO + Latest Video + Top Video + U.S. Video + Europe Video + Asia Video + CEO Interviews + Analyst Interviews * CNBC TV + CNBC U.S. + CNBC Asia-Pacific + CNBC Europe + CNBC World * CNBC Pro Click Here! U.S. News Obama's Internet Order: Power Grab or Simple Update? Text Size Published: Wednesday, 11 Jul 2012 | 4:15 PM ET Eamon Javers By: Eamon Javers CNBC Washington Reporter Washington’s cynics go on high alert on Fridays around holidays. That’s traditionally when the White House puts out news it would rather didn’t get a whole lot of coverage. CNBC Barack Obama That appears to be what happened on the Friday after Fourth of July as the White House revealed President Barack Obama’s new executive order clarifying the federal government’s communications authority in a national crisis. Entitled “Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions,” the blandly written document lays out a series of directives to government agencies to prepare plans to be able to communicate with “the public, allies, and other nations” in the event of a national crisis. It seems to assert the government can take control of private telecommunications technology, presumably including those used for the Internet, for government communications in an emergency. Internet privacy advocates are raising concerns about the scope of the order, worrying that it represented a power grab on behalf of the federal government. “Under the Executive Order the White House has … granted the Department [of Homeland Security] the authority to seize private facilities when necessary, effectively shutting down or limiting civilian communications,” wrote the Electronic Privacy Information Center in a blog post. Should Government Control the Internet in an Emergency? A new executive order from President Obama laying out emergency government procedures is getting a lot of attention on the Internet. CNBC's Eamon Javers has the details. Critics are homing in on language such as this, from section 5.2\(e\) of the order: “The Secretary of Homeland Security shall … satisfy priority communications requirements through the use of commercial, Government, and privately owned communications resources, when appropriate.” But White House officials tell CNBC that the new order does nothing more than update existing authority dating from a 1984 executive order to reflect modern communications technology. There are no new expansions of authority in the order, they said, and the measure simply directs agencies to develop plans for the government to be able to communicate with the people in a natural emergency like a nuclear attack or terrorist strike. “The Internet is an international network of networks; no one person, organization or country can control or shut down the Internet,” wrote a government official in an email to CNBC. “The United States relies on the Internet to perform essential functions including to operate critical infrastructure and to maintain essential national security capabilities. That is why the President has designated our digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset. This Order is about communications resilience — the Administration's goal is to maintain this connected environment during the worst disasters, even in circumstances when our adversaries may wish to deprive us of their use.” The lesson in all this? Keep an eye on government websites on Fridays. - By CNBC's Eamon Javers Print Email President Obama's executive order lays out a series of directives to government agencies to prepare plans to be able to communicate with “the public, allies, and other nations” in the event of a national crisis. Related * Should Government Control the Internet in an Emergency? * www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/06/executive-order-assi gnment-national-security-and-emergency-preparedness- * Internet * Politics and Government * Barack Obama * White House * Technology U.S. News Dow Nears Record S&P Flirts with 1,500 Obama Lays Out Battle Plan President Barack Obama gives his inauguration address during the public ceremonial inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Comments More Comments Add Comments Your Comments (Up to 1100 characters): __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Remaining characters Preview Comment CNBC welcomes your contribution. Please respect our community and the integrity of its participants. CNBC reserves the right to moderate and approve your comment. Your comments have not been posted yet. Please review your submission to make sure you are comfortable with your entry. Your Comments: Edit Comment Submit Comment Click Here! Featured * Survey: Execs Say Cyber Attacks A Top Threat The threat of a cyber-attack tops the threat of losing money as the primary risk business executives are concerned about, according to AIG survey. * Massive Credit Card Ring Steals $200 Million: Feds Eighteen people have been charged in what may be one of the nation's largest credit card fraud rings. * US Postal Service to Cut Saturday Mail to Trim Costs US Postal Service The financially struggling U.S. Postal Service said it plans to stop delivering mail on Saturdays. * Heavyweights Battle for GOP’s Soul Karl Rove The battle for the soul of the Republican party is getting nastier following the launch of a new effort by some wealthy donors to strike back at ideologically driven activists. The FT reports. More From U.S. News * Why Home Builders Won't Drop New Home Prices * Ending Saturday Mail Only First Step: Postmaster General * The Results Are In, Monopoly Reveals Its New Token * What Would You Call Tim Geithner's Book? * U.S. Oil Price at Widest Discount of the Year to International Crude * Netflix Is Not a Threat: Time Warner CEO * Is This Beginning of the End for Dell's PC Empire? * 'We Will Return to Growth This Year': JC Penney CEO * Pinterest Seeks Funding at $2 Billion Valuation: Source * US Mortgage Applications Rose Last Week, Despite Rate Hike: MBA U.S. Video * Dreamliner Mystery Continues The NTSB is holding a press conference Thursday at 11am ET on the 787, reports CNBC's Phil LeBeau. A look at which cities were impacted by the 787 grounding. * Libor Investigation: DB Suspends 5 More Traders CNBC's Kayla Tausche reports Deutsche Bank has suspended 5 more traders, making it 7 in total, in the Libor investigation. * Tracking the Winter Storm 'Nemo' This day 35 years ago, the blizzard of '78 slammed the tri-state area and New England. The Weather Channel's Paul Goodloe reports the weather forecast for the week ahead. * Media Money Technology * Microsoft Surface Pro Gets Tough Early Reviews * Is This Beginning of the End for Dell's PC Empire? * This New Instagram Feature May Help It Finally Make Money * What, No Instagram or Pandora? The BlackBerry App Problem * HP Breakup? Here Is What's Fueling the Chatter Energy * Why It's Over for Natural Gas * US Oil Output Hike: What It Means for Gulf Producers * US Pumps Up Oil Output to Highest Level in 20 Years * Commodities Tomorrow: Traders Focus on Petrol Supplies * Shell's Alaska Rig Debacle—Just the Tip of the Iceberg? Economy * Gallows Humor at S&P as Economy Imploded * Long-Term Unemployment Now a Thing of the Past? * Back-Loaded Debt Cut Plan Won't Fly: Biz Leaders * Expect Long-Term Damage in Spain: JPMorgan * Housing Already Shows Signs of a New Bubble Retail * JCP's CEO: 'We Will Return to Growth This Year' * The Results Are In, Monopoly Reveals Its New Token * Playing JC Penney's Future? * The Chinese Consumer Could Define Year of Snake * GM Shares Surge in China World Economic Forum Special Report * Davos: Was the Mood Too Good to Be True? * Worst Not Over for Europe Yet: Canada Bank Official * The Rich and Famous at Davos * Barclays CEO: We Were Too Aggressive, Self-Serving * ECB's Draghi: Economic Activity Is Stabilizing Top News and Analysis * Tilson Cuts Apple and Gets Long the Stock Market * Rate-Fixing Settlements Are Just Tip of the Iceberg * Why Home Builders Won't Drop New Home Prices * Dreamliner Grounding Puts Cities in Holding Pattern * Ending Saturday Mail Only First Step: Postmaster General Most Popular Video * Cramer: 'Noose Tightening' on Netflix Shorts * JC Penney CEO to Speak Out * Cashin: Now … Watch for These S&P Levels * Gross: 'Cult of Equities' Still Dying, Despite 14K * Dreamliner's Trickle Down Impact Most Shared * Midwestern Startups: The Rise of Silicon Prairie * US Postal Service to Cut Saturday Mail to Trim Costs * Disney Earnings Beat; 'Star Wars' Spinoffs Planned * Sucker Alert? Insider Selling Surges After Dow 14,000 * Gasoline at Highest Price Ever for This Time of Year NEWS * U.S. * Asia * Europe * Economy * Energy * Inside Wealth * Politics * Technology * Blogs * Slideshows * Special Reports * Corrections MARKETS * Pre-Markets * US * Europe * Asia * Stocks * Commodities * Currencies * Bonds * Funds * ETFs EARNINGS * Calendar * Surprises * Highlights INVESTING * Stock Blog * Personal Finance * CNBC Explains * Portfolio * Watchlist * Stock Screener * Fund Screener SMALL BUSINESS * Franchising * Financing * Management * Video VIDEO * Latest Video * Top Video * U.S. Video * Europe Video * Asia Video * CEO Interviews * Analyst Interviews CNBC TV * CNBC U.S. * CNBC Asia-Pacific * CNBC Europe * CNBC World CNBC Pro CNBC * About CNBC * Site Map * Video Reprints * Advertise * Careers * Help * Contact * Privacy Policy * * Terms of Service * Independent Programming Report * Latest News Releases * RSS Certain market data provided by Thomson Reuters Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes Market Data Terms of Service Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis © 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved A Division of NBCUniversal