U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on May 14 sponsored legislation to authorize interagency coordination that would mitigate risks to the nation’s information and communications technology (ICT) services and equipment marketplace and its supply chain.
“The U.S. is fighting to win the race to 5G,” said Sen. Blackburn, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “It is essential that we not allow foreign adversaries access to our systems. It is equally important we stop adversaries from exploiting the global marketplace to run trusted suppliers out of business.”
Sen. Blackburn said she introduced the Sharing Urgent, Potentially Problematic Locations that Yield Communications Hazards in American Internet Networks (SUPPLY CHAIN) Act, S. 1457, to direct the U.S. Commerce Secretary to coordinate with the heads of appropriate federal entities on conducting ongoing reviews of the ICT marketplace and its supply chain.
“Information is power and 5G holds the promise to revolutionize American competitiveness across virtually every industry,” the senator said. “Let’s be sure we’re prioritizing national security in the process.”
If enacted, S. 1457 also would require long-term strategic planning between the government and the private sector to assess marketplace risks, to identify counterfeit ICT, and to analyze strategic opportunities for “asymmetric advantage,” according to a summary of the bill provided by Sen. Blackburn’s office.
Additionally, S. 1457 would require that the ability of foreign entities to exploit the marketplace be assessed to determine if risks are being raised by that conduct and would support the identification of emerging, long-term trends that might threaten the nation’s ICT marketplace, the senator said.
S. 1457 has been referred for consideration to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.