Rockefeller pledges to work with tech leaders to avert "cyber 9/11, cyber Katrina"

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is imploring the technology community to work with congressional lawmakers to address cybersecurity reform before the nation experiences "a cyber-Katrina, or a cyber-9/11."

During a speech Thursday at the Business Software Alliance's 2010 Cybersecurity Forum, Sen Rockefeller predicted anything less that full cooperation would threaten national security and increase the likelihood that an attack would trigger a public response in support of "tough, unbending solutions" that do not favor private industry. However, he cautioned tech leaders not to balk prematurely at federal attempts to secure government and private networks. Touting his own cybersecurity bill, drafted last year with the help of Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), he stressed "shared responsibility" would be the only way to deter and respond to cyber threats before they wreaked serious havoc.