Trump Signs Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act

President Donald Trump signed the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998) Thursday, as expected (see 2003040056). The law, which the Senate passed in February (see 2002270070), allocates $1 billion to help U.S. communications providers remove from their networks Chinese equipment determined to threaten national security (see 1912160052). The White House tied Trump’s signing of HR-4998 to a broader commitment “to safeguard America’s vital communications networks and securing technology.” Trump “is committed to the development of reliable 5G and ensuring the United States remains the global leader in technology and innovation,” the White House said. The administration “is working with allies and partners” on telecom security principles “that will foster reliable 5G networks” and “is working to ensure America’s private sector has access to spectrum, including critical mid-band spectrum, to fuel the growth of our wireless industry.” Trump is “committed to ensure” that rural Americans “have access to safe and reliable high-speed broadband,” the White House said. Trump told reporters before a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar he believes if countries like Ireland use equipment from Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei, “there's a real problem with intelligence and intelligence security. And we'll see what happens. We'll be discussing that point also.” HR-4998’s enactment drew praise from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, U.S. lawmakers and communications sector officials. “Securing our networks from malicious foreign interference is critical to America’s wireless future, especially as some communications providers rely on equipment from companies like Huawei that pose an immense threat,” said HR-4998 lead sponsors House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J.; ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore.; House Communications Subcommittee Vice Chair Doris Matsui, D-Calif.; and Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky. Now “we can take steps to protect our communications networks from bad actors, while helping small and rural providers remove and replace suspect network equipment.” The law “lays the foundation to help U.S. firms strip out vulnerable equipment and replace it,” said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. "I hope Congress will build on this success and move forward quickly to appropriate the necessary funding to reimburse carriers for replacing any network equipment or services found to be a national security threat," Pai said. "This funding is essential to successfully transition communications networks—especially those of small and rural carriers—to infrastructure provided by more trusted vendors." Telecommunications Industry Association CEO David Stehlin called HR-4998 “an important step forward in the United States’ efforts to safeguard the integrity of our communications networks by supporting efforts to replace at-risk equipment with equipment from trusted suppliers.” The Rural Wireless Association said that “now we must push ahead in Congress to quickly appropriate the authorized funding." Mavenir considers HR-4998 “an important step,” said CEO Pardeep Kohli. Trump is "providing another policy tool to prevent China and others from interfering in our communications networks," said 5G Action Now Chairman Mike Rogers. He praised "banning the use of federal funds to buy equipment from Huawei, ZTE, and other companies deemed to be national security threats, while providing funds to allow small businesses to remove this equipment."