[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5823-H5825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       UTILIZING STRATEGIC ALLIED TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 2020

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6624) to support supply chain innovation and multilateral 
security, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6624

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Utilizing Strategic Allied 
     Telecommunications Act of 2020'' or the ``USA 
     Telecommunications Act''.

     SEC. 2. WIRELESS SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--From amounts made available under 
     subsection (d), the Assistant Secretary shall, beginning not 
     later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, make grants on a competitive basis to support the 
     deployment and use of Open RAN 5G Networks throughout the 
     United States by--
       (1) promoting the use of technology, including software, 
     hardware, and microprocessing technology, that will enhance 
     competitiveness in the supply chains of Open RAN 5G Networks;
       (2) accelerating the deployment of Open Network Equipment;
       (3) promoting the use of Open Network Equipment;
       (4) establishing objective criteria that can be used to 
     determine if equipment meets the definition of Open Network 
     Equipment;
       (5) promoting the inclusion of security features that 
     enhance the integrity and availability of Open Network 
     Equipment; or
       (6) promoting the application of network function 
     virtualization to facilitate the deployment of Open RAN 5G 
     Networks and a more diverse vendor market.
       (b) Grant Criteria.--The Assistant Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Commission, the Director of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security, the Director of the Defense Advanced 
     Research Projects Agency (commonly known as ``DARPA''), and 
     the Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects 
     Activity of the Office of the Director of National 
     Intelligence (commonly known as ``IARPA''), shall establish 
     the criteria under which the Assistant Secretary shall award 
     a grant under subsection (a).
       (c) Reports to Congress.--
       (1) Annual report on grants made.--For each fiscal year for 
     which amounts are available to make grants under subsection 
     (a), the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the relevant 
     committees of Congress a report that includes, with respect 
     to that fiscal year--
       (A) a description of--
       (i) to whom grants under subsection (a) were made, the 
     amount thereof, and criteria used to award such grants; and
       (ii) the progress the Assistant Secretary has made in 
     meeting the objectives described in subsection (a) of the 
     grant program under this section; and
       (B) any additional information that the Assistant Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       (2) Report on 5g network supply chain.--Not later than 180 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Assistant Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees 
     of Congress a written report--
       (A) that includes recommendations on promoting the 
     competitiveness and sustainability of trusted Open RAN 5G 
     Networks; and
       (B) identifying whether any additional authorities are 
     needed by the Assistant Secretary to facilitate the timely 
     adoption of Open Network Equipment, including the authority 
     to provide loans, loan guarantees, and other forms of credit 
     extension that would maximize the use of grant amounts 
     awarded under this section.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) Amount authorized.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to make grants under subsection (a) $750,000,000 
     for fiscal years 2021 through 2031.
       (2) Availability.--Amounts made available under paragraph 
     (1) shall remain available through fiscal year 2031.

     SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish 
     an Advisory Committee to advise the Assistant Secretary in 
     the manner described in subsection (c).
       (b) Composition.--The Advisory Committee established under 
     subsection (a) shall be composed of--

[[Page H5824]]

       (1) representatives from--
       (A) the Commission;
       (B) the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (commonly 
     known as ``DARPA'');
       (C) the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity of 
     the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (commonly 
     known as ``IARPA'');
       (D) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
       (E) the Department of State;
       (F) the National Science Foundation; and
       (G) the Department of Homeland Security; and
       (2) other representatives from the private and public 
     sectors, at the discretion of the Assistant Secretary.
       (c) Duties.--The Advisory Committee established under 
     subsection (a) shall be used to advise the Assistant 
     Secretary on technology developments to help inform--
       (1) the strategic direction of the grant program 
     established under section 2; and
       (2) efforts of the Federal Government to promote a more 
     secure, diverse, sustainable, and competitive supply chain 
     for Open RAN 5G Networks.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) 3gpp.--The term ``3GPP'' means the Third Generation 
     Partnership Project.
       (2) 5g network.--The term ``5G network'' means a radio 
     network as described by 3GPP Release 15 or higher, or any 
     successor network.
       (3) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' 
     means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications 
     and Information.
       (4) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
     Communications Commission.
       (5) Open network equipment.--The term ``Open Network 
     Equipment'' means equipment that follows a set of open 
     standards (such as O-RAN standards or the Open Radio Access 
     Network approach to standardization, adopted by the O-RAN 
     Alliance, 3GPP, or other organization) and open interfaces 
     for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability, such 
     that the equipment may be integrated into the Radio Access 
     Networks of an Open RAN 5G Network.
       (6) Open ran 5g network.--The term ``Open RAN 5G Network'' 
     means a 5G network that follows a set of open standards (such 
     as O-RAN standards or the Open Radio Access Network approach 
     to standardization, adopted by the O-RAN Alliance, 3GPP, or 
     other organizations) and open interfaces for multi-vendor 
     network equipment interoperability.
       (7) Relevant committees of congress.--The term ``relevant 
     committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (B) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
     House of Representatives;
       (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (D) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (F) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate;
       (G) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
       (H) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (I) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs of the Senate; and
       (J) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 6624.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 6624, the USA Telecommunications Act.
  Earlier this year, the House passed, and the President signed, my 
Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act to create a program to 
fund the replacement of suspect network equipment. Suspect equipment, 
including that produced by Huawei and ZTE, could allow foreign 
adversaries to surveil Americans at home or, worse, disrupt our 
communications systems.
  While we are still pushing for Congress to appropriate funds to that 
end, it is important to recognize that my legislation was only half the 
battle, even when it is funded. We also need to create and foster 
competition for trusted network equipment that uses open interfaces so 
that the United States is not beholden to a market for network 
equipment that is becoming less competitive.

                              {time}  1400

  This bill before us today, the Utilizing Strategic Allied 
Telecommunications Act, or the USA Telecommunications Act, does just 
that.
  The bipartisan legislation creates a grant program and authorizes 
$750 million in funding for the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration to help promote and deploy Open Radio Access 
Network technologies that can spur that type of competition. We must 
support alternatives to companies like Huawei and ZTE, Madam Speaker.
  Today, most network equipment is produced by a handful of companies 
that provide a soup-to-nuts solution, locking our networks into one 
single vendor at a time. That makes it hard for new competitors to 
break into the market.
  Currently, there are no American vendors for the network equipment 
that fuels our wireless economy. However, this legislation would 
authorize the funding of grants to support the promotion and deployment 
of Open Radio Access Network equipment.
  By using standardized open interfaces, this type of equipment will 
allow network operators in the U.S. to piece together wireless networks 
that are both secure and make sense for them. And because of that, many 
American companies will be able to work directly with our network 
providers, hopefully spurring a domestic market for network equipment, 
and that is something we desperately need.
  For all of these reasons, I want to thank Representatives Guthrie and 
Matsui and Ranking Member Walden for joining me in leading this 
bipartisan, bicameral bill. I also want to thank the Senate sponsors, 
led by Senator Warner of Virginia.
  This legislation is critical for our strategic national interest, and 
I urge all Members to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 6624, the USA Telecommunications 
Act. This bill will help put the United States at the helm of network 
security, ensuring that communications providers have a secure, 
diverse, and competitive marketplace of trusted equipment suppliers for 
their next-generation networks.
  Until now, most network providers have relied on a small set of 
trusted suppliers to build their networks. While these suppliers have 
done a tremendous job, they face increased pressure from untrusted 
Chinese suppliers who are handpicked and encouraged by the Chinese 
Communist Party to significantly undercut the network equipment 
marketplace by offering nearly free equipment.
  As a result of this unfair competition, trusted suppliers have 
increasingly relied upon proprietary soup-to-nuts offerings to survive. 
But under the soup-to-nuts model, once a network provider selects a 
vendor, the provider must use the same vendor for all of the hardware 
and software across its network.
  Well, this model is simply not sustainable, Madam Speaker. If we want 
the United States to continue to have access to trusted, affordable 
communications equipment that can withstand state-sponsored attempts to 
undermine our security, then we have to act.
  This model results in an expensive and timely process to upgrade 
equipment and software for the next-generation 5G networks.
  Furthermore, competing for a small set of contracts in a limited 
marketplace, while simultaneously trying to fight off untrusted state-
sponsored vendors, has also resulted in significant losses to research, 
development, and innovation.
  So Congress needs to act. We need to do all we can to ensure the 
United States supports capitalism and competition among trusted 
vendors. Today's bill will help us do just that.
  The USA Telecommunications Act will promote and accelerate the 
deployment and use of open radio access technology by infusing the 
marketplace with a $750 million grant program. This hefty infusion 
should help

[[Page H5825]]

create a marketplace filled with a diverse array of vendors, large and 
small, who are aggressively researching and innovating.
  Competition among open network solutions will reduce costs for 
network providers by creating a diverse marketplace of trusted 
suppliers and ensure that the same suppliers can withstand pressure 
from those who do not have our best interests in mind.
  So this strong endorsement of open, interoperable, and standards-
based equipment would help ensure the United States maintains its place 
as a global leader in wireless communications for 5G as well as future 
network generations.
  I am very pleased to support this legislation which will help ensure 
the superiority of our wireless networks for generations to come. I 
urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Guthrie), one of the principal authors of this legislation.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for H.R. 
6624, the USA Telecommunications Act.
  It is clear that China poses a significant threat to the security of 
the United States. Technology produced by Chinese companies threatens 
our supply chains and our telecommunications networks and those of our 
allies.
  In March, President Trump signed into law legislation that was 
reported out of this committee to protect our communications networks 
against threats from foreign companies like Huawei and ZTE.
  It is clear that America must have a competitive 5G marketplace. The 
solution isn't using government control like China, but using markets 
to our advantage so domestic and trusted foreign competitors to Huawei 
can thrive.
  The USA Telecommunications Act would authorize up to $750 million for 
a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, in 
consultation with the FCC and other Federal agencies, to promote and 
accelerate the deployment and use of open-interfaced, standards-based, 
and interoperable 5G networks throughout the United States.

  Furthermore, 5G is going to be key to unlocking new opportunities for 
all Americans. With more people working and studying from home than 
ever before, promoting equipment and technology development like Open 
RAN technology can help to diversify our supply chains and keep our 
networks secure, especially as we expand 5G.
  I was proud to introduce this piece of legislation with Chairman 
Pallone, Ranking Member Walden, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui, and I 
thank them for working with me to help protect our networks. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. WALDEN. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers on this 
legislation, so I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I also 
urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6624, the USA 
Telecommunications Act.
  It has been a decade since I first raised how the vulnerabilities in 
our telecommunications infrastructure directly impact our national 
security. I first wrote to the FCC on November 2, 2010, expressing very 
grave concerns about Huawei and ZTE, companies that have opaque 
entanglements with the Chinese government. In the intervening decade, 
Huawei and ZTE equipment has proliferated across our country because 
it's cheap, due to the Chinese government subsidizing them.
  As we build out 5G networks, we must protect our national security, 
especially from entities like Huawei and ZTE, and it's why I'm proud to 
cosponsor H.R. 6624, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that invests 
$750 million in Open Radio Access Networks, or Open RAN, and promotes 
the deployment of open network 5G equipment.
  We hear a great deal and talk about 5G, but I don't think most people 
can tell you what 5G actually is. It's a set of protocols and standards 
agreed to in various multistakeholder forums. Unlike previous 
generations of wireless standards, 5G is primarily based on software 
independent of the physical telecommunications equipment which 
increases security.
  Open RAN is a movement to create secure and open software standards 
for 5G that ensures that our communications are secure, no matter whose 
equipment the communications travel through. This is critical because 
even after we remove Huawei and ZTE-made cell sites from our country, 
we may still have their parts in our telecom ecosystem because they 
make parts used by most providers. We can never be 100 percent secure 
if we rely on insecure equipment. This is precisely why we need the 
software used by wireless equipment to be secure by design, and Open 
RAN does just that.
  For these reasons, I urge colleagues to support H.R. 6624.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6624.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________