Joyce-sponsored bill seeks to protect nation’s telecom supply chain

U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) recently sponsored legislation to define lines of effort and assign responsibilities for a whole-of-government response to ensuring the competitiveness of the information and communication technology supply chain in the United States. 

“This legislation is a common-sense step towards securing our internet infrastructure,” Rep. Joyce said on Tuesday.

The Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act, H.R. 1354, which Rep. Joyce introduced alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), would create a study organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate to what extent technology from companies like Huawei and ZTE, which are controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, are part of the U.S. telecommunications network, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Joyce’s staff.

“As we continue to expand broadband internet into rural communities, we need to ensure that we keep our national security in mind,” said Rep. Joyce. “Fighting to protect our communications networks from bad actors – like the Chinese Communist Party – must be at the forefront of our work.”

If enacted, H.R. 1354 also would further require the Commerce Department to provide an update to Congress on the resources necessary to fully source U.S. broadband infrastructure in an effort toward making it more difficult for foreign adversaries to interfere in the American telecom network, the summary says. 

The congressional update would assess whether, and to what extent, there is a dependence by providers of advanced telecom capability in the U.S. on information and communication technology that is not trusted, according to the text of the bill, and would identify what actions the federal government should take to support and bolster the economic competitiveness of trusted information and communication technology vendors, among several other provisions.

The measure has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.