Title 6Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§1501 Definitions

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - CYBERSECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION SHARING › § 1501

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the subchapter. "Agency" means what section 3502 of title 44 says it means. "Antitrust laws" means what section 12 of title 15 says; it also includes section 45 of title 15 when that section covers unfair methods of competition, and it can include State antitrust laws only if they match those federal laws. "Appropriate Federal entities" are the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, and the Treasury, plus the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Several cyber terms — "cybersecurity purpose," "cybersecurity threat," "cyber threat indicator," "defensive measure," "security control," "security vulnerability," "information system," "monitor," "malicious cyber command and control," and "malicious reconnaissance" — have the meanings given in section 650 of this title. "Federal entity" means a U.S. department, agency, or a part of one. "Local government" means a borough, city, county, parish, town, township, village, or similar political subdivision of a State. "Non-Federal entity" means private groups or non-Federal government bodies, States, tribes, and local governments (including DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other U.S. territories), but not a "foreign power" as defined in section 1801 of title 50. "Private entity" means a person or private organization (and can include governments when they provide utility services like electric, gas, or water), but not a foreign power per section 1801 of title 50. "Tribal" means the same as "Indian tribe" in section 5304 of title 25.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §1501

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this subchapter:
(1)The term “agency” has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of title 44.
(2)The term “antitrust laws”—
(A)has the meaning given the term in section 12 of title 15;
(B)includes section 45 of title 15 to the extent that section 45 of title 15 applies to unfair methods of competition; and
(C)includes any State antitrust law, but only to the extent that such law is consistent with the law referred to in subparagraph (A) or the law referred to in subparagraph (B).
(3)The term “appropriate Federal entities” means the following:
(A)The Department of Commerce.
(B)The Department of Defense.
(C)The Department of Energy.
(D)The Department of Homeland Security.
(E)The Department of Justice.
(F)The Department of the Treasury.
(G)The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
(4)The term “cybersecurity purpose” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(5)The term “cybersecurity threat” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(6)The term “cyber threat indicator” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(7)The term “defensive measure” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(8)The term “Federal entity” means a department or agency of the United States or any component of such department or agency.
(9)The term “information system” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(10)The term “local government” means any borough, city, county, parish, town, township, village, or other political subdivision of a State.
(11)The term “malicious cyber command and control” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(12)The term “malicious reconnaissance” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(13)The term “monitor” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(14)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the term “non-Federal entity” means any private entity, non-Federal government agency or department, or State, tribal, or local government (including a political subdivision, department, or component thereof).
(B)The term “non-Federal entity” includes a government agency or department of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
(C)The term “non-Federal entity” does not include a foreign power as defined in section 1801 of title 50.
(15)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the term “private entity” means any person or private group, organization, proprietorship, partnership, trust, cooperative, corporation, or other commercial or nonprofit entity, including an officer, employee, or agent thereof.
(B)The term “private entity” includes a State, tribal, or local government performing utility services, such as electric, natural gas, or water services.
(C)The term “private entity” does not include a foreign power as defined in section 1801 of title 50.
(16)The term “security control” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(17)The term “security vulnerability” has the meaning given the term in section 650 of this title.
(18)The term “tribal” has the meaning given the term “Indian tribe” in section 5304 of title 25.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Pars. (4) to (7). Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(4)(A), added pars. (4) to (7) and struck out former pars. (4) to (7) which defined cybersecurity purpose, cybersecurity threat, cyber threat indicator, and defensive measure, respectively. Par. (9). Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(4)(B), added par. (9) and struck out former par. (9) which defined information system. Pars. (11) to (13). Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(4)(C), added pars. (11) to (13) and struck out former pars. (11) to (13) which defined malicious cyber command and control, malicious reconnaissance, and monitor, respectively. Pars. (16), (17). Pub. L. 117–263, § 7143(b)(4)(D), added pars. (16) and (17) and struck out former pars. (16) and (17) which defined security control and security vulnerability, respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 114–113, div. N, § 1(a), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2935, provided that: “This division [enacting this chapter and section 149 and 151 of this title, amending section 131, 148, 149, and 150 of this title, section 1029 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 3553 and 3554 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 101, 131, and 151 of this title and section 301 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees] may be cited as the ‘Cybersecurity Act of 2015’.” Pub. L. 114–113, div. N, title I, § 101, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2936, provided that: “This title [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the ‘Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015’.” Pub. L. 114–113, div. N, title II, § 221, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2963, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 221–229) of title II of div. N of Pub. L. 114–113, enacting subchapter II of this chapter and section 149 and 151 of this title, amending section 148, 149, and 150 of this title and section 3553 and 3554 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 151 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015’.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 1501

Title 6Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73