House Commerce GOP Touts Telecom, Emerging Tech Proposals

House Commerce Committee Republicans touted their legislative proposals on broadband deployments, network security and emerging tech, saying Monday they’re “in line” with the Trump administration's October national strategy (see 2010150047). The Republicans cited their June package of bills aimed at streamlining broadband deployments (see 2006250068), a response to House Democrats’ earlier proposal for $100 billion in broadband funding. They noted their support for the Utilizing Strategic Allied Telecom Act (HR-6624/S-3189) and Trump’s March signing (see 2003120061) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR-4998). Appropriators are wrangling over allocating money for the law’s proposed funding to rip and replace suspect equipment on U.S. networks, including from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE (see 2009140062). HR-6624/S-3189 would require the FCC to create an NTIA-managed open radio access network R&D grant program (see 2004240032). House Commerce Republicans cited leaders’ May emerging tech agenda and the September refiling of the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (Self Drive) Act (HR-8350) to create a legal framework for autonomous vehicles.