Federal

Open RAN Outreach Act

Source: Congress.gov · 439 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs a specific federal official to conduct outreach (contact and engagement activities) and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers. The outreach focuses on making providers aware of Open RAN networks, which are wireless networks built on published open standards that allow equipment from multiple vendors to work together. The bill also aims to help these providers learn about and participate in an existing grant program for wireless supply chain innovation.

Who It Affects

Small communications network providers (companies that offer communications services to customers)

Key Provisions

* The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, must conduct outreach to small communications network providers (Sec. 2(a)) * The outreach must raise awareness about the uses, benefits and challenges of Open RAN networks and other open network architectures (Sec. 2(a)(1)) * The outreach must inform small providers about the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program established under the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Sec. 2(a)(2))

What Changes

If this becomes law, the federal government will actively reach out to small communications network providers to educate them about Open RAN networks and help them understand how to apply for wireless supply chain innovation grants.

Important Definitions

* Open RAN Network: A wireless network that follows the Open Radio Access Network approach to standardization adopted by the O-RAN Alliance, Telecom Infra Project, 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), or similar published open standards allowing multiple vendors' equipment to work together * Open Network Architecture: Open RAN networks and other network elements that follow published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability, including open core and open transport

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1340 To provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 3, 2023 Mr. ALLRED (for himself, Mr. HUDSON, and Mr. GUTHRIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide outreach and technical assistance to small pro- viders regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Open RAN Outreach 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:23 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1340.IH H1340 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1340 IH SEC. 2. OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL 1 PROVIDERS REGARDING OPEN RAN NET- 2 WORKS. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary shall con- 4 duct outreach and provide technical assistance to small 5 communications network providers— 6 (1) to raise awareness regarding the uses, bene- 7 fits, and challenges of Open RAN networks and 8 other open network architectures; and 9 (2) regarding participation in the Wireless Sup- 10 ply Chain Innovation Grant Program established 11 under section 9202(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) 12 Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 13 Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283). 14 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 15 (1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist- 16 ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of 17 Commerce for Communications and Information, 18 acting through the head of the Office of Internet 19 Connectivity and Growth. 20 (2) OPEN NETWORK ARCHITECTURE.—The 21 term ‘‘open network architecture’’ means Open RAN 22 networks and other network elements that follow a 23 set of published open standards for multi-vendor 24 network equipment interoperability, including open 25 core and open transport. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:23 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1340.IH H1340 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1340 IH (3) OPEN RAN NETWORK.—The term ‘‘Open 1 RAN network’’ means a wireless network that fol- 2 lows the Open Radio Access Network approach to 3 standardization adopted by the O–RAN Alliance, 4 Telecom Infra Project, or Third Generation Partner- 5 ship Project (3GPP), or any similar set of published 6 open standards for multi-vendor network equipment 7 interoperability. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:23 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1340.IH H1340 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.