The U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 8 approved four bipartisan bills designed to boost America’s standing in the global race to deploy fifth generation (5G) wireless technology for digital cellular networks.
“U.S. leadership in 5G is critical for our global competitiveness,” said U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “In order to beat China in a global economy and ensure America remains the best place in the world to innovate, we must win the 5G race.”
U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-OR) and Bob Latta (R-OH) released a joint statement following action by the House on Wednesday. Rep. Walden serves as Republican leader on the Energy and Commerce Committee, while Rep. Latta is ranking member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee.
“These bipartisan bills will help us achieve a national priority for the United States: winning the global race to 5G,” the members said. “This technology holds the key to the possibility of self-driving cars, the Internet of Things, telemedicine, rural broadband, and many other doors we have yet to open.”
The House passed the following bills:
– The Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020, H.R. 2881, would direct the president and several federal agency leaders to develop a national Secure Next Generation Mobile Communications Strategy. U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Susan Brooks (R-IN) are original cosponsors of the bill that was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).
– The Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019, H.R. 4500, would require the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information to take certain actions to enhance the representation of the United States and promote United States leadership in communications standards-setting bodies. Rep. Brooks and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) were among those who introduced the bill that was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).
– The Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2019, H.R. 3763, calls for the federal government to provide assistance and technical expertise to enhance the representation and leadership of the United States at international standards-setting bodies that set standards for equipment, systems, software, and virtually-defined networks that support 5th and future generations mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure. The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).
– House Resolution (H.Res.) 575, expresses the sense of the House that all stakeholders in the deployment of 5G communications infrastructure should carefully consider and adhere to the recommendation of the Prague Proposals, which the White House says emphasizes the need for 5G networks to be constructed based on free and fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law. The bill was sponsored by U.S. Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Darren Soto (D-FL).
Rep. McMorris Rodgers noted that the bills would help “ensure the infrastructure our service providers use for our next-generation networks is secure.”
Equipment from companies supported by the Chinese government, she added, “comes with significant risks. The Trump administration has prioritized American competitiveness and our national security in 5G, and these bills will help support their efforts.”
The U.S. Senate on Jan. 9 received all four measures for consideration.
“The future of connectivity in America relies on 5G and we urge swift action in the Senate to send these bipartisan measures to President Trump’s desk,” Reps. Walden and Latta said.