The House passes four bills focused on Telcom security

WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives passed four bi-partisan bills focused on securing communications and technology including H.R. 3919, the “Secure Equipment Act of 2021,” which names Huawei, ZTE and Hytera Technologies, including well-known video surveillance giants Hikvision and Dahua, on what is called a “Entity” list.

H.R. 3919 co-sponsor, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), said, “By prohibiting the FCC from issuing any equipment licenses to companies identified as a threat to our national security, this bill prevents compromised Chinese equipment from threatening America’s networks. The Secure Equipment Act sends a strong signal to the Chinese Communist Party that America is committed to securing our networks and protecting the privacy and safety of our citizens.”

The four pieces of legislation sent to the Senate include:

• H.R. 3919 the “Secure Equipment Act of 2021,” which passed by a vote of 420-4, would prohibit the FCC from reviewing or approving any authorization for wireless equipment from a provider that is on the list of those that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. Companies listed on the “Entity List” include Huawei, ZTE and Hytera Technologies.
• H.R. 4032, the “Open RAN Outreach Act,” passed by a vote of 410-17, would require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communication network providers to raise awareness about open radio access network (RAN) technology. The legislation also requires the Assistant Secretary to raise awareness about, and participation in, the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.
• H.R. 4028, the “Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act,” which passed by a vote of 413-14, would require the Secretary of Commerce to report on and develop a whole-of-government strategy with respect to the economic competitiveness of the information and communication technology supply chain, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 4067, the “Communications Security Advisory Act of 2021,” passed by a vote of 397-2, would direct the FCC to make permanent a recently re-charted council to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks. The bill passed on the House. 

“Together, these bills will boost network reliability, protect against suspect equipment that poses a risk to our national security, support small communications network providers, and bolster the economic competitiveness of our technology supply chains,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) in a joint statement. “We commend the bipartisan work that went into these bills that advanced out of our Committee in July and hope that the Senate will take action soon.”