22 U.S.C. § 10307 — Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership

(a) Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership The Secretary may establish a program that may be called the “Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership” to help foreign countries— (1) expand and increase secure internet access and digital infrastructure in emerging markets, including demand for and availability of high-quality information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, software, and services; (2) protect technological assets, including data; (3) adopt policies and regulatory positions that foster and encourage an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet; the free flow of data; multi-stakeholder models of internet governance; and pro-competitive and secure ICT policies and regulations; (4) access United States exports of ICT goods and services; (5) expand interoperability and diversify ICT goods and supply-chain services so they are less dependent on imports from the People’s Republic of China; (6) promote best practices and common standards for a national approach to cybersecurity; and (7) advance other priorities that are consistent with paragraphs (1) through (6), as the Secretary determines. (b) Use of funds Funds made available to carry out this section may be used to strengthen civilian cybersecurity and information and communications technology capacity. This includes the participation of foreign law enforcement and military personnel in non-military activities, despite any other provision of law, only if that support is essential to enabling civilian and law-enforcement cybersecurity and information and communications technology activities in their respective countries. This section does not define the quoted terms used in this subsection. (c) Implementation plan No later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary must submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability an implementation plan for the coming year to advance the goals in subsection (a). (d) Consultation When developing and putting into operation the implementation plan required under subsection (c), the Secretary must consult with— (1) the appropriate congressional committees, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and the House Committee on Appropriations; (2) United States industry leaders; (3) other relevant technology experts, including the Open Technology Fund; (4) representatives of relevant United States Government agencies; and (5) representatives of like-minded allies and partners. (e) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, funds authorized to be appropriated for chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.) may be made available, despite any other provision of law, to strengthen civilian cybersecurity and information and communications technology capacity, including participation by foreign law enforcement and military personnel in non-military activities, and to make contributions to international organizations and international financial institutions^* of which the United States is a member. These funds remain available until they are expended.