Open Ran Outreach Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. LATTA. 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2037
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Open RAN Outreach Act''. SEC. 2. OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL PROVIDERS REGARDING OPEN RAN NETWORKS.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers--
(1) to raise awareness regarding the uses, benefits, and challenges of Open RAN networks and other open network architectures; and
(2) regarding participation in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program established under section 9202(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283).
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth.
(2) Open network architecture.--The term ``open network architecture'' means Open RAN networks and other network elements that follow a set of published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability, including open core and open transport.
(3) Open ran network.--The term ``Open RAN network'' means a wireless network that follows the Open Radio Access Network architecture and published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability.
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.
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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close at this time.
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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I also urge Members of the House to support this legislation.
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