U.S. Representatives Richard Hudson and Troy Carter have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening U.S. wireless networks and enhancing competition with China. The legislation, known as the Open RAN Outreach Act, seeks to protect small and rural communications network providers from reliance on technology companies backed by the Chinese Communist Party, such as Huawei.
Representative Hudson, who chairs the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, emphasized the importance of supporting telecom providers in deploying technologies like Open RAN. “By ensuring our small and rural telecom providers have the support needed to deploy technologies, like Open RAN, we can promote innovation and create jobs,” he stated. He also noted that this legislation would pave the way for increased U.S. competition with China while creating a more secure wireless network landscape.
Representative Carter highlighted the significance of this legislative step in strengthening national telecommunications infrastructure. “This is a pivotal step toward strengthening our nation’s telecommunications infrastructure,” said Rep. Carter. He added that providing technical assistance to small telecom providers in rural areas will foster a more secure and competitive wireless network environment.
The bill aims to reduce reliance on foreign-made equipment by promoting Open RAN technology, which enhances national security and supports American manufacturing. This shift is expected to drive down costs and empower smaller carriers to build stronger networks.
The need for securing domestic supply chains became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters when untrusted companies offered lower-cost technology solutions backed by government funding from China. The promotion of trusted alternative vendors remains crucial for protecting U.S. networks.
Open RAN technology offers an open network infrastructure with components from multiple manufacturers, unlike closed or proprietary networks that rely on a single vendor for end-to-end equipment. The Open RAN Outreach Act mandates technical assistance from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to help small providers implement these technologies if desired.
