House of Representatives Passes Four Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen US Telecom Infrastructure

The House of Representatives passed four bipartisan communications and technology bills on October 20:

• H.R. 4067, the “Communications Security Advisory Act of 2021,” would direct the Federal Communications Commission to make permanent a recently recharted council to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks.
• H.R. 3919, the “Secure Equipment Act of 2021,” would prohibit the FCC from reviewing or approving any authorization for wireless equipment from a provider that is on the list of those that pose an unacceptable risk to national security.
• H.R. 4032, the “Open RAN Outreach Act,” would require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers to raise awareness of the benefits, uses, and challenges of Open Radio Access Network (RAN) networks and other open network architectures. The legislation also requires the Assistant Secretary to raise awareness about, and participation in, the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.
• H.R. 4028, the “Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act,” would require the Secretary of Commerce to report on and develop a whole-of-government strategy with respect to the economic competitiveness of the information and communication technology supply chain, and for other purposes.