Open RAN Outreach Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), a member of our committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2037, the Open RAN Outreach Act.

Open RAN, or Open Radio Access Network, technology is a wireless network architecture that has the potential to drive 5G and 6G innovation forward. Like any new technology, we are just beginning to broadly deploy it, as there is still much to learn about its potential. This is especially true for smaller communications providers who must be prudent about their resources and refrain from taking unnecessary risks in introducing new technology into their networks.

We know Open RAN can both help introduce competition into a market that is currently dominated by untrusted equipment makers, like Huawei, and support the development of new trusted manufacturers, including those in the United States.

This bill helps bridge a gap by providing small communications providers with the support they need to determine whether Open RAN is an appropriate network solution for them. Under this bill, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information 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.

This bill would also require the Assistant Secretary to provide guidance to small carriers about their participation in the agency's Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund.

Sadly, with the passage of the one big, ugly bill, the need for this guidance is significantly diminished, as congressional Republicans inexplicably gutted this program by withdrawing $850 million in funding. It is deeply disappointing that congressional Republicans would rather use this money to give tax cuts to billionaires than develop creative solutions to protect our wireless networks from foreign adversaries seeking to harm our Nation.

Nevertheless, I commend Representatives Carter 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 tools to make informed decisions about the need for new technology in their networks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding the time.

I stand in strong support of H.R. 2037, the Open RAN Outreach Act. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan Open RAN Outreach Act with Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina. I am grateful that the full House is considering this bill.

Today's bill is an example of what bipartisanship can look like on the Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill provides greater Federal support for small telecommunications companies in rural and disadvantaged communities to help these companies improve their networks and remove potentially insecure Chinese network hardware.

Specifically, this bill directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to provide outreach and technical assistance to small

communications network providers about the benefits of transitioning to Open Radio Access Networks, or Open RAN or ORAN technologies.

It is imperative that telecommunications providers of all sizes are aware of and have access to cutting-edge technologies. It is also the case that this bill promotes U.S. technological innovations and competitiveness and, most importantly, our national security.

While I am proud to be a part of this effort, I would be remiss in not highlighting that programs like the wireless supply chain innovation grant program may be negatively affected by reconciliation decisions made by the administration.

This is a pivotal step toward strengthening our Nation's telecommunications infrastructure. By providing technical assistance and outreach to small telecommunications providers, especially in rural areas, this bill opens the door to a more secure, diverse, and competitive wireless network landscape.

The shift to Open RAN technology not only enhances national security by reducing reliance on foreign-made equipment but also boosts American manufacturing and fosters innovation in 5G and 6G.

The bill ensures that rural communities are no longer left behind in the race for cutting-edge technology, driving down costs and empowering smaller carriers to build stronger, more resilient networks.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to pass the Open RAN Outreach Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2037) to provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. 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 in the Record on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2037, the Open RAN Outreach Act, led by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), who represents the Second District.

This legislation helps pave the way for greater U.S. competition with China by promoting technology that encourages vendor diversity. Specifically, this legislation requires NTIA to provide support to all of our small and rural communications providers that want to deploy Open RAN technology. Promoting a more competitive market of trusted vendors to provide 5G equipment remains an important strategic component to protect U.S. networks.

As an open network infrastructure, Open RAN technology can help diversify communications technology by allowing multiple components from multiple manufacturers. This bill will give small and rural providers important information and support to deploy Open RAN technologies if providers would like to implement this technology in their networks.

This legislation has a strong history of bipartisan support in the Committee on Energy and Commerce and passed the full committee in April by voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2037, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close at this time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also urge Members of the House to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.