Senate Commerce Plans 5G Supply Chain Security Hearing

The Senate Commerce Committee plans a March 4 hearing on 5G supply chain security, which it said will partially examine “efforts to secure networks from exploitation in the transition to 5G” and the federal government’s “role in mitigating risks to telecommunications equipment and services.” Planned witnesses include: Competitive Carriers Association CEO Steven Berry, Ericsson North America Head of Security-Network Product Solutions Jason Boswell, Nokia President-Customer Operations, Americas Rick Corker and Center for Strategic and International Studies Technology Policy Program Director James Lewis. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in 253 Russell. Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has a deal for the chamber to soon pass the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998) by unanimous consent (see 2002130054). The House-passed bill would allocate at least $1 billion to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security. The FCC asked eligible telecom carriers Wednesday whether they use equipment or services from Huawei or fellow Chinese equipment maker ZTE (see 2002260010).