Washington, D.C. - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement after the Full Committee voted favorably to advance eight communications bills to the full House of Representatives:
“The Energy and Commerce Committee passed eight critical bills today to fix our broadband maps, free up more of our nation’s airwaves and secure our telecommunications networks. I’m especially proud of my bipartisan legislation that will ensure small and rural telecommunications companies have the support they need to root out suspect equipment from their networks made by companies like Huawei and Z.T.E. We simply cannot allow China, and other bad actors, to infiltrate our telecommunications networks. These are all good pieces of legislation that I hope will move to the House floor soon."
H.R. 4229, the “Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act" or the “Broadband DATA Act," was introduced by Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH). This legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue new rules to require the collection and dissemination of granular broadband availability data and to establish a process to verify the accuracy of such data, and more. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
Amendment to H.R. 4229 offered by Rep. Eshoo was adopted by voice vote:
* The amendment prohibits FCC-contracted entities from selling, transferring, or otherwise disclosing any personally identifiable information for purposes other than those explicitly authorized.
H.R. 4227, the “Mapping Accuracy Promotion Services Act" or the “MAPS Act," was introduced by Reps. A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) and Billy Long (R-MO). This legislation specifies that it is unlawful for a person to willfully, knowingly, or recklessly submit inaccurate broadband service data. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
H.R. 5000, the “Studying How to Harness Airwave Resources Efficiently Act of 2019" or the “SHARE Act," was introduced by Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta (R-OH). This legislation requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in consultation with FCC, to establish a spectrum sharing prototyping program and test bed to explore new ways for Federal entities to share spectrum with other Federal entities, and more. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
Amendment to H.R. 5000 offered by Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) was adopted by voice vote:
* The amendment adds “look before talk" and “synchronization" to the list of required NTIA considerations to ensure that NTIA considers the most up-to-date spectrum sharing techniques in its spectrum sharing program and strategy.
H.R. 4998, the “Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019," was introduced by Pallone, Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), and Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY). This legislation instructs FCC to develop and maintain a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security and prohibits the use of funds made available by FCC programs to purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain such equipment and services. The bill also establishes the Secure and Trusted Communications Reimbursement Program to assist communications providers with the costs of removing prohibited equipment and services from their networks and replacing prohibited equipment with more secure communications equipment and services. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
Amendment to H.R. 4998 offered by Ranking Member Walden and Chairman Pallone was adopted by voice vote:
* The amendment clarifies that not more than $5,000,000 may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out the reimbursement program.
H.R. 4461, the “Network Security Information Sharing Act of 2019," was introduced by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA). This legislation directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NTIA, and FCC, to establish a program to share supply chain security risks with advanced communications service providers and trusted suppliers of telecommunications equipment and services. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
H.R. 2881, the “Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019," was introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Susan Brooks (R-IN). This legislation directs the President to develop the "Secure Next Generation Mobile Communications Strategy" in consultation with the heads of FCC, NTIA, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as the DNI and Secretary of Defense. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
H.R. 4500, the “Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019," was introduced by Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI). This legislation directs NTIA to encourage participation by trusted American companies and other stakeholders in standards-setting bodies, and to offer technical assistance to stakeholders that do elect to participate, in the course of developing standards for 5G networks and future generations of communications networks. The bill was adopted by voice vote.
Amendment to H.R. 4500 offered by Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) was adopted by voice vote:
* The amendment makes technical edits regarding how NTIA identifies trusted companies.
H. Res. 575, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all stakeholders in the deployment of 5G communications infrastructure should carefully consider and adhere to the recommendation of "the Prague Proposals," was introduced by Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Darren Soto (D-FL). The resolution also encourages the President and Federal agencies to promote trade and security policies on the international stage that are consistent with "The Prague Proposals." The bill was adopted by voice vote.
