[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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