U.S. Representative Richard Hudson, serving as the Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, marked a significant legislative achievement with the passing of the bipartisan Open RAN Outreach Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to enhance U.S. wireless networks while safeguarding small and rural communications network providers from dependency on technology companies backed by the Chinese Communist Party, such as Huawei.
“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,” stated Chairman Hudson. “My bill paves the way for greater U.S. competition with China and a more secure, resilient wireless network landscape.”
The necessity of securing domestic supply chains and telecommunications networks has been highlighted by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters. Companies like Huawei have leveraged government support from China to offer lower costs, enticing smaller providers to adopt their technology. The promotion of a competitive market featuring trusted alternative vendors for 5G equipment is crucial for protecting U.S. networks.
A closed or proprietary network relies on a single vendor or manufacturer for its entire network equipment needs. In contrast, Open RAN technology offers an open network infrastructure that can incorporate multiple components from various manufacturers. The Open RAN Outreach Act mandates that technical assistance and outreach regarding Open RAN technologies be provided by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This initiative will furnish small and rural providers with information and support to implement Open RAN technologies if they choose to do so.
Read the Open RAN Outreach Act here.
