House committee advances eight cybersecurity bills

The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced eight bills, which would promote more secure networks and supply chains while securing a wireless future.

The Secure Equipment Act of 2021 would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules prohibiting equipment authorization from companies on the FCC’s Covered List.

The Open RAN Outreach Act would direct the NTIA Administrator to provide outreach and technical assistance to small communications network providers regarding Open Radio Access Networks (Open-RAN) and other open network architectures.

The NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act would authorize the NTIA Office of Policy Analysis and Development and renames it the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity.

The additional measures include the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act; the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act; the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act; the American Cybersecurity Literacy Act; and the Communications Security Advisory Act of 2021.

“I am proud that the Energy and Commerce Committee came together to pass urgently needed legislation that will promote more secure networks and supply chains, bringing us one step closer to a safer and more secure wireless future,” Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said. “Collectively, these bipartisan bills will educate the public, smaller providers, and small businesses on how best to protect their telecommunications networks and supply chains – all while improving the coordination and resources necessary to support them.”