[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 183 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5656-H5657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OPEN RAN OUTREACH ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4032) to provide outreach and technical assistance to small
providers regarding the benefits of Open RAN networks, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4032
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 ``Open RAN Outreach Act''.
SEC. 2. OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL PROVIDERS
REGARDING OPEN RAN NETWORKS.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall conduct
outreach and provide technical assistance to small
communications network providers--
(1) to raise awareness regarding the uses, benefits, and
challenges of Open RAN networks and other open network
architectures; and
(2) regarding participation in the Wireless Supply Chain
Innovation Grant Program established under section 9202(a)(1)
of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283).
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information, acting through the head of the Office of
Internet Connectivity and Growth.
(2) Open network architecture.--The term ``open network
architecture'' means Open RAN networks and other network
elements that follow a set of published open standards for
multi-vendor network equipment interoperability, including
open core and open transport.
(3) Open ran network.--The term ``Open RAN network'' means
a wireless network that follows the Open Radio Access Network
approach to standardization adopted by the O-RAN Alliance,
Telecom Infra Project, or Third Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP), or any similar set of published open
standards for multi-vendor network equipment
interoperability.
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to provide outreach
and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open
RAN networks, and for other purposes.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) 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. 4032.
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.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4032, the Open RAN
Outreach Act.
Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, technology is an emerging
wireless network architecture that has the potential to drive 5G
innovation forward. But like any new technology, we still have much to
learn about the possibilities, complexities, and challenges of Open
RAN. This is especially true for smaller communications providers.
This bill steps up to the challenge by providing small communications
providers with the support they need to
[[Page H5657]]
determine whether Open RAN is an appropriate network solution for them.
Under the bill, the Assistant Secretary of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, will be
required to engage in outreach and provide technical assistance to
small communications providers concerning the uses, benefits, and
challenges of Open RAN and other open network architectures.
NTIA will also inquire about the providers' participation in the
Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program, which was established
in the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
Madam Speaker, I commend Representatives Allred, O'Halleran, Guthrie,
and Hudson for their bipartisan work on this bill. This is a good bill,
as it ensures that our country's small communications providers have
the necessary help to make informed decisions about the need for new
technology in their wireless networks.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill in a
bipartisan manner, and I look forward to its consideration in the
Senate. I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1700
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, again, I rise today in support of H.R. 4032, the Open
RAN Outreach Act, which was introduced by Representatives Allred,
Guthrie, O'Halleran, and Hudson.
Open RAN compatible technology will play an important role as
communications networks evolve over the coming decade. While most
networks today are limited to integrated systems provided by one or two
vendors, the deployment of Open RAN compatible technology will
encourage innovation, competition, and new entrants in the
communications marketplace.
By encouraging a robust market for Open RAN compatible technology,
the cost of trusted equipment is expected to decrease over time. These
lower costs will help smaller wireless providers deploy mobile
broadband cost effectively without having to turn to untrusted vendors
like Huawei.
As small, and often rural, providers upgrade to 5G and replace
untrusted Huawei or ZTE equipment, we must keep in mind the difficulty
these providers may have in taking advantage of some of the programs
offered in Washington.
H.R. 4032 would require NTIA to conduct outreach and technical
assistance to these small and rural providers to make sure they have
the information necessary if they choose to take advantage of Open RAN
compatible technologies.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Allred).
Mr. ALLRED. Madam Speaker, our Nation's future depends on protecting
our wireless networks from vulnerabilities and untrusted vendors like
Chinese-backed companies. That is why today I rise in support of my
bipartisan bill, the Open RAN Outreach Act.
This bill encourages the administration to provide outreach and
technical assistance to small communications network providers
regarding how to use Open Radio Access Networks, or Open RAN
technologies, including those produced in my district in north Texas.
Many carriers use a closed or proprietary network, meaning that they
need to use one vendor or manufacturer. This can place a substantial
cost burden on smaller carriers to reduce costs, potentially by using
cheaper, Chinese-owned alternatives like Huawei.
Open RAN allows different components to be produced by different
companies, leading to a more diverse and competitive supply chain. My
legislation ensures smaller carriers have the tools they need to deploy
Open RAN if desired, helping secure our wireless networks.
Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' in support
of this bill.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4032, the
Open RAN Outreach Act.
Untrusted telecommunication companies, such as Chinese Communist
Party-backed Huawei, are able to offer low-cost equipment to small and
rural providers across the globe due to the Chinese Government
subsidizing them.
Due to congressional action, untrusted vendors can no longer provide
telecommunications equipment in the U.S., and bills I have supported,
such as Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and USA
Telecommunications Act, help remove untrusted equipment to secure our
networks and promote competition.
The Open RAN Outreach Act further builds on our efforts to strengthen
our supply chain and ensure untrusted equipment is kept out of American
telecommunications networks.
Open RAN technology can help diversify telecommunications technology
and help increase competition. This technology is an open network
infrastructure that can have multiple components from multiple
manufacturers.
The Open RAN Outreach Act requires the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration to provide small and rural providers
information on the opportunities and challenges of implementing Open
RAN compatible technology.
If providers would like to use this technology, this bill also
requires NTIA to support implementation of Open RAN technologies.
Promoting a more competitive market of trusted alternative vendors to
provide 5G equipment remains an important component in the strategy to
protect U.S. networks.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representatives Allred, Hudson, and
O'Halleran for working with me on this legislation, and I encourage my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers.
Mr. LATTA. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield
myself the balance of my time to close.
Madam Speaker, I know we had the hearing on Open RAN in committee,
and I heard the testimony that day, and how we can expand our networks
across the country is absolutely essential. As we know, as we go into
the different types of technologies, we are going to need as much as we
possibly can, and so this bill is going to help.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the sponsors for bringing it before us
today. I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, in closing, I would ask that Members
support this bill that helps our small communications providers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
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. 4032, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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