Sec. 3. Rural and municipal utility advanced cybersecurity grant and technical assistance program
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In this section: The term advanced cybersecurity technology means any technology, operational capability, or service, including computer hardware, software, or a related asset, that enhances the security posture of electric utilities through improvements in the ability to protect against, detect, respond to, or recover from a cybersecurity threat (as defined in section 102 of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 ( 6 U.S.C. 1501 )). The term eligible entity means— a rural electric cooperative; a utility owned by a political subdivision of a State, such as a municipally owned electric utility; a utility owned by any agency, authority, corporation, or instrumentality of one or more political subdivisions of a State; and a not-for-profit entity that is in a partnership with not fewer than 6 entities described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
The term Program means the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program established under subsection (b). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council, shall establish a program, to be known as the Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program , to provide grants and technical assistance to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
The objectives of the Program shall be— to deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies for electric utility systems; and to increase the participation of eligible entities in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs. The Secretary— shall award grants and provide technical assistance under the Program to eligible entities on a competitive basis; shall develop criteria and a formula for awarding grants and providing technical assistance under the Program; may enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities that can facilitate the objectives described in subsection (c); and shall establish a process to ensure that all eligible entities are informed about and can become aware of opportunities to receive grants or technical assistance under the Program.
In awarding grants and providing technical assistance under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that, as determined by the Secretary— has limited cybersecurity resources; owns assets critical to the reliability of the bulk power system; or owns defense critical electric infrastructure (as defined in section 215A(a) of the Federal Power Act ( 16 U.S.C. 824o–1(a) )). Information provided to, or collected by, the Federal Government under this section— shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code; and shall not be made available by any Federal agency, State, political subdivision of a State, or Tribal authority under any applicable law requiring public disclosure of information or records.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024, to remain available until expended.
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- 16 USC 824o–1(a)
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Sec. 3
Rural and municipal utility advanced cybersecurity grant and technical assistance program
Cite16 USC 824o–1(a)
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