Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4045) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task force to be known as the ``6G Task Force'', and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4045
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act'' or the ``FUTURE Networks Act''. SEC. 2. 6G TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall establish a task force to be known as the ``6G Task Force''.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--The members of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Chair.
(2) Composition.--To the extent practicable, the membership of the Task Force shall be composed of the following:
(A) Representatives of companies in the communications industry, except companies that are determined by the Chair to be not trusted.
(B) Representatives of public interest organizations or academic institutions, except public interest organizations or academic institutions that are determined by the Chair to be not trusted.
(C) Representatives of the Federal Government, State governments, local governments, or Tribal Governments, with at least one member representing each such type of government.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Task Force is established under subsection (a), the Task Force shall publish in the Federal Register and on the website of the Commission, and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report on sixth-generation wireless technology, including--
(A) the status of industry-led standards-setting bodies in setting standards for such technology;
(B) possible uses of such technology identified by industry-led standards-setting bodies that are setting standards for such technology;
(C) any limitations of such technology (including any supply chain or cybersecurity limitations) identified by industry-led standards-setting bodies that are setting standards for such technology; and
(D) how to best work with entities across the Federal Government, State governments, local governments, and Tribal Governments to leverage such technology, including with regard to siting, deployment, and adoption.
(2) Draft report; public comment.--The Task Force shall--
(A) not later than 180 days after the date on which the Task Force is established under subsection (a), publish in the Federal Register and on the website of the Commission a draft of the report required by paragraph (1); and
(B) accept public comments on such draft and take such comments into consideration in preparing the final version of such report.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chair.--The term ``Chair'' means the Chair of the Commission.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal Communications Commission.
(3) Not trusted.--
(A) In general.--The term ``not trusted'' means, with respect to an entity, that--
(i) the Chair has made a public determination that such entity is owned by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of a foreign adversary; or
(ii) the Chair otherwise determines that such entity poses a threat to the national security of the United States.
(B) Criteria for determination.--In making a determination under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Chair shall use the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2(c) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(c)), as appropriate.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153).
(5) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the 6G Task Force established under subsection (a).
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Mr. PALLONE. 4045.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4045, the FUTURE Networks Act. Even as we await the full deployment and utilization of fifth generation, or 5G, wireless networks, U.S. communications and technology companies are collaborating on the next generation of networks; specifically, 6G networks.
We may not be able to predict now the technological innovation that will come with these networks, but based on our Nation's experience to this point, we can foresee the issues that will need to be addressed to get 6G networks off the ground. Issues like supply chain availability, security, and equality in deployment and adoption will all need to be reviewed and resolved; and, therefore, it is not too early for government and relevant stakeholders to begin discussing these issues now. That is the goal of H.R. 4045, the FUTURE Networks Act.
This bipartisan legislation would require the FCC to convene a task force to examine relevant 6G issues. The task force will be made up of stakeholders from industry, public interest organizations, academic institutions, and relevant Federal, State, local, and Tribal Government representatives.
Finding agreed-upon approaches and solutions to these issues now will make for a smoother transition in the future.
I want to thank our Communications and Technology Subcommittee chairman, Mike Doyle, as well as Representatives Johnson and McBath, for their bipartisan leadership on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. PALLONE. Doyle), who is the chairman of our Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the FUTURE Networks Act, which is a bill that I have introduced, along with my friends, Representatives Lucy McBath and Bill Johnson.
Our Nation's wireless networks are constantly evolving, bringing more innovative services and connectivity to our constituents. Over my time in Congress, I have watched wireless networks transform from the first iterations of digital technology to 3G, then 4G, and now 5G networks with achievable speeds well over 1 gigabit.
While these innovations have been extraordinary, the benefits have not flowed to all Americans equally, and we have seen related policy issues that have necessitated congressional action and regulatory steps from the FCC. To ensure that all Americans benefit from the next generation of wireless technology, 6G, we need to be considering it now.
The FUTURE Networks Act will require the Federal Communications Commission to create a 6G task force with members appointed by the chair and comprising representatives from trusted companies, public interest groups, and government representatives at every level of government, including Tribes. The mandate of the task force would be to report on possible uses, strengths, and limitations of 6G, including any supply chain, cybersecurity, or other limitations that would need to be addressed as the wireless technology evolves.
This bill would lay the groundwork for the policy considerations that will certainly arise, and it is good, forward-looking governance.
I want to thank the cosponsors for their efforts on the bill, Representatives Lucy McBath and Bill Johnson, and my bipartisan colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their input and support to strengthen this measure throughout the process.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the FUTURE Networks Act.
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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge bipartisan support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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