House Communications Panel May Examine Removing 'Suspect' Network Gear, Doyle Says

A planned Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing on supply chain security and spectrum legislation is likely to focus on an expected bill aimed at helping smaller carriers address equipment on their networks that may be a security risk (see 1909120003), Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., told reporters. The hearing targets legislation “to root-out suspect network equipment nationwide and explore ways to improve coordination and management of spectrum resources to better serve the American people,” said Doyle and House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., in a statement. The panel is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. in 2322 Rayburn. Pallone has been leading work on coming legislation expected to provide funding to rural carriers to remove equipment from Chinese equipment makers Huawei and ZTE (see 1907220053). House Communications aims to use “regular order” for advancing all of its legislation, “and the first step would be hearings and then markups, so it's reasonable to assume that if we have a hearing, then a markup can't be too far behind,” Doyle said. The hearing is unlikely to touch much on legislation on repurposing spectrum in the 3.7-4.2 GHz C band for 5G, Doyle said. “We're not there yet” on legislation marrying elements of his own draft bill and the Wireless Investment Now in (Win) 5G Act (HR-4171) from House Communications Vice Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif. “I'm for a public auction and getting as much” of the C-band spectrum “sold as we can,” Doyle said.