Reps Pallone, Walden, Guthrie, and Matsui Introduce Bill to Promote Competitive and Secure 5G Equipment

House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), and Reps Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the “Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act of 2020“ in the House of Representatives. The bill would authorize up to $750 million for a grant program administered by the US Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies, to promote and accelerate the deployment and use of open interfaced, standards-based, and interoperable 5G networks throughout the US. Specifically, the USA Telecommunications Act of 2020 would:

• Create the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to distribute up to $750 million in grants on a competitive basis to support the deployment and use of Open RAN 5G Networks in America;
• Require a detailed report to Congress each year grants are made and a report detailing the current state of the 5G network supply chain within 180 days of enactment;
• Establish an advisory committee consisting of the FCC, federal agencies and other representatives from the private and public sectors, to advise the NTIA on technology developments to help inform the strategic direction of the grant program.

Similar legislation (S. 3189) has been introduced in the Senate by Sens Mark Warner (D-VA), Richard Burr (R-NC), and four others.