Rep. Carter Introduces Open RAN Outreach Act to Improve Telecom Coverage in Rural America and Enhance National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) introduced the bipartisan Open RAN Outreach Act. The bill provides greater Federal support for small telecommunications companies in rural and disadvantaged communities and allows these companies to remove potentially insecure Chinese network hardware.
The bill directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to provide outreach and technical assistance to small communications network providers about the benefits of transitioning to Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) technologies. NTIA will also inform providers about the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program, funded by the CHIPS Act for $1.5 billion, to help these networks switch to Open RAN and replace older Chinese-made equipment.
“This is a pivotal step toward strengthening our nation's telecommunications infrastructure,” said Rep. Carter. “By providing technical assistance and outreach to small telecom providers, especially in rural areas like Louisiana, this bill opens the door to a more secure, diverse, and competitive wireless network landscape. The shift to Open RAN technology not only enhances national security by reducing reliance on foreign-made equipment but also boosts American manufacturing and fosters innovation in 5G. This bill ensures that rural communities are no longer left behind in the race for cutting-edge technology, driving down costs and empowering smaller carriers to build stronger, more resilient networks."
Open RAN technology is an emerging wireless network architecture that has the potential to drive 5G innovation forward for rural communities. It is mainly used by small and rural telecom providers who service areas where major network providers like Verizon and AT&T haven’t built out their networks. In the past, these companies had to use equipment from the Chinese company Huawei to build their networks, which poses national security concerns. Open RAN allows these companies to build out their networks using American-made equipment, making our communications systems more secure, boosting American manufacturing, increasing competition for network equipment, and lowering costs for network providers and their customers.
“By ensuring our small and rural telecom providers have the support needed to deploy technologies, like Open RAN, we can promote innovation and create jobs," said Rep. Hudson. "This legislation paves the way for greater U.S. competition with China and a more secure, resilient wireless network landscape."
Background:
The radio access network (RAN) is the part of a mobile wireless network that connects phones, tablets, watches, and other connected devices to a mobile provider’s internal network. Many carriers today use a closed or proprietary network, meaning they must use one vendor or manufacturer from end to end. This can place a substantial cost burden on smaller carriers to reduce costs, potentially by using cheaper, Chinese-owned alternatives like Huawei. There are only two major non-Chinese companies, Ericsson and Nokia, that produce end-to-end network equipment.
An Open Radio Access Network is an open network infrastructure that allows different components to be produced by different companies, leading to a more diverse and competitive supply chain for carriers. To ensure that smaller carriers have the tools and information they need to deploy Open RAN technology if desired, this legislation calls for technical assistance to be provided to these carriers by the Administration through NTIA.
The Open RAN Outreach Act is cosponsored by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC).
Read the full bill text here.
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