[House Report 119-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-74
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FUTURE USES OF TECHNOLOGY UPHOLDING RELIABLE AND ENHANCED NETWORKS ACT
_______
April 24, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Guthrie, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2449]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 2449) to direct the Federal Communications
Commission to establish a task force to be known as the ``6G
Task Force'', and for other purposes, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and
recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Committee Action................................................. 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Oversight Findings and Recommendations........................... 3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 3
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 4
Related Committee and Subcommittee Hearings...................... 4
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 4
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 5
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 2449, the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable
and Enhanced Networks Act, or FUTURE Networks Act, was
introduced by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA), Rick Allen
(R-GA), and Tim Walberg (R-MI) on March 27, 2025. The FUTURE
Networks Act would direct the Chair of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a task force to
examine the possible uses, strengths, and limitations of sixth-
generation (6G) wireless technology.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
As American consumers are increasingly connecting a broad
range of devices to our country's wireless communications
networks, the United States is facing a convergence of multiple
policy issues related to these networks, including protecting
them from cybersecurity vulnerabilities and supply chain
disruptions. For instance, vulnerable internet of things
devices can be hijacked by third parties to target other parts
of wireless network infrastructure, exposing these networks to
risk.\1\ Wireless networks can also be exposed to risk by their
own network components.\2\ Therefore, the United States must
remain engaged in the global race to produce innovative new
wireless technologies, lest the nation be relegated to relying
on suspect equipment, technologies, or services.\3\
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\1\Pete Burke, Protecting critical Internet Infrastructure from IoT
Device Risks, GCN (Dec. 10, 2018) (https://gcn.com/articles/2018/12/10/
iot-critical-infrastructure.aspx).
\2\U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission, Supply Chain
Vulnerabilities from China in US Federal Information and Communications
Technology (Apr. 2018).
\3\Id.
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Though fifth-generation wireless technology is only
beginning to be utilized, U.S. communications and technology
companies are already beginning to collaborate and discuss 6G
wireless technology.\4\ Identifying security and supply chain
issues, among other things, early in the development of 6G
wireless technology will help policymakers and the
telecommunications industry proactively address potential
problems and limitations with this technology, while keeping
American innovators on the cutting edge.
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\4\Anna Akins, 6G Wireless: What It Is and When It's Coming, S&P
Global, Market Intelligence (March 4, 2021) (available at
www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-
headlines/6g-wireless-what-it-is-and-when-it-s-coming-62956538).
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COMMITTEE ACTION
On January 11, 2024, the Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology held a hearing entitled, ``Safeguarding Americans''
Communications: Strengthening Cybersecurity in a Digital Era.''
The Subcommittee received testimony from:
Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber Policy,
Fortinet;
Tobin Richardson, President and CEO,
Connectivity Standards Alliance;
Clete Johnson, Senior Fellow, Center for
Strategic and International Studies; and
Alan Butler, Executive Director and
President, Electronic Privacy Information Center.
On February 15, 2024, the Subcommittee on Communications
and Technology held a hearing entitled, ``Securing
Communications Networks from Foreign Adversaries.'' The
Subcommittee received testimony on the FUTURE Networks Act
from:
James Lewis, Senior Vice President, Center
for Strategic and International Studies;
Craig Singleton, China Program Senior
Director and Senior Fellow, Foundation of Defense of
Democracies; and
Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow for Emerging
Technologies, German Marshall Fund's Alliance for
Securing Democracy.
On March 12, 2024, the Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology met in open markup session and forwarded on the
FUTURE Networks Act (introduced in the 118th Congress as H.R.
1513), without amendment, to the full Committee by vote of 23
yeas and 0 nays.
On March 20, 2024, the full Committee on Energy and
Commerce met in open markup session and ordered H.R. 1513
favorably reported to the House by a record vote of 44 yeas and
0 nays.
On April 8, 2025, the full Committee on Energy and Commerce
met in open markup session and ordered on the FUTURE Networks
Act favorably reported to the House by a voice vote.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the
record votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. There were no recorded votes taken in connection with
ordering H.R. 2449 reported.
OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII, the Committee held a hearing and made findings that
are reflected in this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY,
AND TAX EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee
finds that H.R. 2449 would result in no new or increased budget
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or
revenues.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII, at the time this
report was filed, the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not available.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general
performance goal or objective of this legislation is to
establish a task force on sixth-generation wireless technology
at the Federal Communications Commission, to ensure experts,
policymakers, and other stakeholders can proactively identify
and address security, supply chain, and other issues in next
generation wireless networks.
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, no provision of
H.R. 2449 is known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, including any program that was included in a report to
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
RELATED COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following
hearing was used to develop or consider H.R. 2449:
On January 11, 2024, the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled,
``Safeguarding Americans'' Communications:
Strengthening Cybersecurity in a Digital Era.'' The
Subcommittee received testimony from:
Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber
Policy, Fortinet;
Tobin Richardson, President and
CEO, Connectivity Standards Alliance;
Clete Johnson, Senior Fellow,
Center for Strategic and International Studies;
and
Alan Butler, Executive Director
and President, Electronic Privacy Information
Center.
On February 15, 2024, the Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology held a hearing entitled,
``Securing Communications Networks from Foreign
Adversaries.'' The Subcommittee received testimony on
the FUTURE Networks Act from:
James Lewis, Senior Vice
President, Center for Strategic and
International Studies;
Craig Singleton, China Program
Senior Director and Senior Fellow, Foundation
of Defense of Democracies; and
Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow
for Emerging Technologies, German Marshall
Fund's Alliance for Securing Democracy.
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the time this report was
filed, the estimate was not available.
EARMARK, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 2449 contains no earmarks, limited
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Short title
This Section would designate that the short title may be
cited as the ``Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and
Enhanced Networks Act'', or the ``FUTURE Networks Act.''
Section 2. 6G task force
Subsection (a) would direct the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to establish, within 120 days, a task force
(Task Force) on sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology.
Subsection (b) would direct the Chair of the FCC to appoint
members to the Task Force, which, to the extent practicable,
shall be composed of representatives from companies in the
communications industry, except those companies determined by
the Chair to be not trusted; representatives from public
interest or academia, except from organizations or institutions
determined by the Chair to be not trusted; and representatives
from the Federal government, state and local governments, or
Tribal governments.
Subsection (c) would require that not later than one year
after the Act's enactment, the Task Force publish a report on
6G wireless technology addressing a number of issues, including
the status of any industry-led standards-setting bodies working
on 6G standards; identification of the limitations of 6G
technology, including supply chain and cybersecurity concerns,
identified by industry-led standard-setting bodies; possible
uses of 6G technology as identified by industry-led standard-
setting bodies; and how to best work with Federal, State,
local, and Tribal governments on using 6G technology, including
with respect to siting, deployment, and adoption.
The legislation also would require that a draft of the
report be published for public comment not later than 180 days
after the Task Force is established under subsection (a). The
Task Force would be required to publish the draft report in the
Federal Register and on the FCC's website. The final report
also must be published in the Federal Register and on the FCC's
website one year after the Task Force is established and
submitted to the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House
of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation in the United States Senate.
Subsection (d) would define terms used in the legislation,
including ``not trusted.''
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
This legislation does not amend any existing Federal
statute.