Federal

NET Act

Source: Congress.gov · 768 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to study how the supply of telecommunications network equipment (the companies and systems that provide internet and phone equipment) affects the ability to provide universal service (making sure all Americans have access to modern internet service). The bill makes the FCC examine whether shortages of network equipment slowed down the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability (fast, reliable internet and phone services).

Who It Affects

The Federal Communications Commission (the agency that regulates communications companies). Providers of advanced telecommunications capability (companies that offer fast internet and phone services).

Key Provisions

- The FCC must assess, to the extent data is available, how the availability of network equipment may have impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability during each reporting period, and must include this assessment in required reports (Sec. 2(a)). - Providers of advanced telecommunications capability are not required to provide the FCC with more information than they were already required to provide before this law was enacted (Sec. 2(b)).

What Changes

The FCC's required reports will now include an assessment of whether network equipment availability affected the deployment of advanced telecommunications services during the reporting period, if data is available.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

II Calendar No. 717 118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 690 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 7, 2023 Mr. HICKENLOOPER (for himself, Mr. MORAN, Mr. TESTER, and Mrs. CAP- ITO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation DECEMBER 17 (legislative day, DECEMBER 16), 2024 Reported by Ms. CANTWELL, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evalu- ate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 2 •S 690 RS SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Network Equipment 2 Transparency Act’’ or the ‘‘NET Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPLY CHAIN CONSIDER- 4 ATION. 5 Section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 6 U.S.C. 163) is amended— 7 (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub- 8 section (e); and 9 (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol- 10 lowing: 11 ‘‘(d) STATUS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPLY 12 CHAIN.—In each report required by subsection (a), the 13 Commission shall, to the extent that data is available, de- 14 termine whether a lack of network equipment significantly 15 impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications 16 capability during the applicable reporting period.’’. 17 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 18 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Network Equipment 19 Transparency Act’’ or the ‘‘NET Act’’. 20 SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPLY CHAIN CONSIDER- 21 ATION. 22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 13(b) of the Communica- 23 tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 163(b)) is amended— 24 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) 25 as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 3 •S 690 RS (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol- 1 lowing: 2 ‘‘(3) assess, to the extent that data is available 3 to the Commission, how the availability of network 4 equipment may have impacted the deployment of ad- 5 vanced telecommunications capability during the ap- 6 plicable reporting period;’’. 7 (b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the amend- 8 ments made by subsection (a) shall be construed to require 9 any provider of advanced telecommunications capability to 10 provide the Federal Communications Commission more in- 11 formation than was required for the purpose of section 13 12 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 163) as in 13 effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. 14 (c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 15 Section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 16 163), as amended by subsection (a), is amended— 17 (1) in subsection (b)— 18 (A) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 19 striking ‘‘(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(4)’’; and 20 (B) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by 21 striking ‘‘(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘(5)’’; 22 (2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(b)(4)’’ and 23 inserting ‘‘(b)(5)’’; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 4 •S 690 RS (3) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ‘‘(b)(3)’’ and 1 inserting ‘‘(b)(4)’’. 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB Calendar No. 717 118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 690 A BILL To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and consider the impact of the tele- communications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, and for other purposes. DECEMBER 17 (legislative day, DECEMBER 16), 2024 Reported with an amendment VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:15 Dec 18, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S690.RS S690 kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB

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.