Representatives applaud Senate passage of communications bill

The U.S. Senate recently passed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, a bipartisan House bill that would secure America’s telecommunications supply chain.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Greg Walden (R-OR), the committee’s ranking member, Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Doris Matsui (D-CA).

“This bipartisan bill will help communities across the country by bolstering efforts to keep our communications supply chain safe from foreign adversaries and other dangerous actors while helping small and rural providers remove and replace suspect network equipment,” the senators said. “We thank our colleagues in the Senate for getting this important, bipartisan measure across the finish line and look forward to the President signing it into law.”

The bill helps the federal government better share supply chain security information with carriers; prohibits the Federal Communications Commission from purchasing communication equipment or services from any company that poses a national security risk to American communications networks; and requires the commission to establish the Secure and Trusted Communications Reimbursement Program to assist small communications providers with the costs of removing prohibited equipment or services from their networks and replacing it with more secure versions.

The bill moves to President Donald Trump for his signature.