H. R. 4998 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty 

An Act 

To prohibit certain Federal subsidies from being used to purchase communications 

equipment or services posing national security risks, to provide for the establishment of a reimbursement program for the replacement of communications equipment or services posing such risks, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019’’. 

SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES POSING NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS. 

(a) PUBLICATION OF COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR

SERVICES LIST.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall publish on its website 

a list of covered communications equipment or services. 

(b) PUBLICATION BY COMMISSION.—The Commission shall place 

on the list published under subsection (a) any communications 

equipment or service, if and only if such equipment or service— 

(1) is produced or provided by any entity, if, based exclusively on the determinations described in paragraphs (1) 

through (4) of subsection (c), such equipment or service produced or provided by such entity poses an unacceptable risk 

to the national security of the United States or the security 

and safety of United States persons; and 

(2) is capable of— 

(A) routing or redirecting user data traffic or permitting visibility into any user data or packets that such 

equipment or service transmits or otherwise handles; 

(B) causing the network of a provider of advanced 

communications service to be disrupted remotely; or 

(C) otherwise posing an unacceptable risk to the 

national security of the United States or the security and 

safety of United States persons. 

(c) RELIANCE ON CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS.—In taking action 

under subsection (b)(1), the Commission shall place on the list 

any communications equipment or service that poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the 

security and safety of United States persons based solely on one 

or more of the following determinations: 

(1) A specific determination made by any executive branch 

interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, 
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including the Federal Acquisition Security Council established 

under section 1322(a) of title 41, United States Code. 

(2) A specific determination made by the Department of 

Commerce pursuant to Executive Order No. 13873 (84 Fed. 

Reg. 22689; relating to securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain). 

(3) The communications equipment or service being covered 

telecommunications equipment or services, as defined in section 

889(f)(3) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1918). 

(4) A specific determination made by an appropriate 

national security agency. 

(d) UPDATING OF LIST.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall periodically update 

the list published under subsection (a) to address changes in 

the determinations described in paragraphs (1) through (4) 

of subsection (c). 

(2) MONITORING OF DETERMINATIONS.—The Commission 

shall monitor the making or reversing of the determinations 

described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c) in 

order to place additional communications equipment or services 

on the list published under subsection (a) or to remove communications equipment or services from such list. If a determination described in any such paragraph that provided the basis 

for a determination by the Commission under subsection (b)(1) 

with respect to any communications equipment or service is 

reversed, the Commission shall remove such equipment or 

service from such list, except that the Commission may not 

remove such equipment or service from such list if any other 

determination described in any such paragraph provides a basis 

for inclusion on such list by the Commission under subsection 

(b)(1) with respect to such equipment or service. 

(3) PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.—For each 12-month period 

during which the list published under subsection (a) is not 

updated, the Commission shall notify the public that no updates 

were necessary during such period to protect national security 

or to address changes in the determinations described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c). 

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON USE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL SUBSIDIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.— 

(1) PROHIBITION.—A Federal subsidy that is made available 

through a program administered by the Commission and that 

provides funds to be used for the capital expenditures necessary 

for the provision of advanced communications service may not 

be used to— 

(A) purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain any covered communications equipment or service; or 

(B) maintain any covered communications equipment 

or service previously purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained. 

(2) TIMING.—Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to any 

covered communications equipment or service beginning on the 

date that is 60 days after the date on which the Commission 

places such equipment or service on the list required by section 

2(a). In the case of any covered communications equipment 

or service that is on the initial list published under such section, 
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such equipment or service shall be treated as being placed 

on the list on the date on which such list is published. 

(b) COMPLETION OF PROCEEDING.—Not later than 180 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 

adopt a Report and Order to implement subsection (a). If the 

Commission has, before the date of the enactment of this Act, 

taken action that in whole or in part implements subsection (a), 

the Commission is not required to revisit such action, but only 

to the extent such action is consistent with this section. 

SEC. 4. SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS 

REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall establish a reimbursement program, to be known as the ‘‘Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program’’, to make reimbursements 

to providers of advanced communications service to replace covered 

communications equipment or services. 

(b) ELIGIBILITY.—The Commission may not make a reimbursement under the Program to a provider of advanced communications 

service unless the provider— 

(1) has 2,000,000 or fewer customers; and 

(2) makes all of the certifications required by subsection 

(d)(4). 

(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of a reimbursement under 

the Program shall use reimbursement funds solely for the purposes of— 

(A) permanently removing covered communications 

equipment or services purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained before— 

(i) in the case of any covered communications 

equipment or services that are on the initial list published under section 2(a), August 14, 2018; or 

(ii) in the case of any covered communications 

equipment or services that are not on the initial list 

published under section 2(a), the date that is 60 days 

after the date on which the Commission places such 

equipment or services on the list required by such 

section; 

(B) replacing the covered communications equipment 

or services removed as described in subparagraph (A) with 

communications equipment or services that are not covered 

communications equipment or services; and 

(C) disposing of the covered communications equipment 

or services removed as described in subparagraph (A) in 

accordance with the requirements under subsection (d)(7). 

(2) LIMITATIONS.—A recipient of a reimbursement under 

the Program may not— 

(A) use reimbursement funds to remove, replace, or 

dispose of any covered communications equipment or 

service purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained 

on or after— 

(i) in the case of any covered communications 

equipment or service that is on the initial list published 

under section 2(a), August 14, 2018; or 

(ii) in the case of any covered communications 

equipment or service that is not on the initial list 
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published under section 2(a), the date that is 60 days 

after the date on which the Commission places such 

equipment or service on the list required by such section; or 

(B) purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain any covered communications equipment or service, using 

reimbursement funds or any other funds (including funds 

derived from private sources). 

(d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 

(1) SUGGESTED REPLACEMENTS.— 

(A) DEVELOPMENT OF LIST.—The Commission shall 

develop a list of suggested replacements of both physical 

and virtual communications equipment, application and 

management software, and services or categories of replacements of both physical and virtual communications equipment, application and management software and services. 

(B) NEUTRALITY.—The list developed under subparagraph (A) shall be technology neutral and may not advantage the use of reimbursement funds for capital expenditures over operational expenditures, to the extent that 

the Commission determines that communications services 

can serve as an adequate substitute for the installation 

of communications equipment. 

(2) APPLICATION PROCESS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall develop an 

application process and related forms and materials for 

the Program. 

(B) COST ESTIMATE.— 

(i) INITIAL ESTIMATE.—The Commission shall 

require an applicant to provide an initial reimbursement cost estimate at the time of application, with 

supporting materials substantiating the costs. 

(ii) UPDATES.—During and after the application 

review process, the Commission may require an 

applicant to— 

(I) update the initial reimbursement cost estimate submitted under clause (i); and 

(II) submit additional supporting materials 

substantiating an updated cost estimate submitted 

under subclause (I). 

(C) MITIGATION OF BURDEN.—In developing the application process under this paragraph, the Commission shall 

take reasonable steps to mitigate the administrative burdens and costs associated with the application process, 

while taking into account the need to avoid waste, fraud, 

and abuse in the Program. 

(3) APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS.— (A) DEADLINE.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause (ii) 

and subparagraph (B), the Commission shall approve 

or deny an application for a reimbursement under the 

Program not later than 90 days after the date of the 

submission of the application. 

(ii) ADDITIONAL TIME NEEDED BY COMMISSION.— If the Commission determines that, because an excessive number of applications have been filed at one 

time, the Commission needs additional time for 
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employees of the Commission to process the applications, the Commission may extend the deadline 

described in clause (i) for not more than 45 days. 

(B) OPPORTUNITY FOR APPLICANT TO CURE DEFICIENCY.—If the Commission determines that an application 

is materially deficient (including by lacking an adequate 

cost estimate or adequate supporting materials), the 

Commission shall provide the applicant a 15-day period 

to cure the defect before denying the application. If such 

period would extend beyond the deadline under subparagraph (A) for approving or denying the application, such 

deadline shall be extended through the end of such period. 

(C) EFFECT OF DENIAL.—Denial of an application for 

a reimbursement under the Program shall not preclude 

the applicant from resubmitting the application or submitting a new application for a reimbursement under the 

Program at a later date. 

(4) CERTIFICATIONS.—An applicant for a reimbursement 

under the Program shall, in the application of the applicant, 

certify to the Commission that— 

(A) as of the date of the submission of the application, 

the applicant— 

(i) has developed a plan for— 

(I) the permanent removal and replacement 

of any covered communications equipment or services that are in the communications network of 

the applicant as of such date; and 

(II) the disposal of the equipment or services 

removed as described in subclause (I) in accordance 

with the requirements under paragraph (7); and 

(ii) has developed a specific timeline (subject to 

paragraph (6)) for the permanent removal, replacement, and disposal of the covered communications 

equipment or services identified under clause (i), which 

timeline shall be submitted to the Commission as part 

of the application; and 

(B) beginning on the date of the approval of the application, the applicant— 

(i) will not purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise 

obtain covered communications equipment or services, 

using reimbursement funds or any other funds 

(including funds derived from private sources); and 

(ii) in developing and tailoring the risk management practices of the applicant, will consult and consider the standards, guidelines, and best practices set 

forth in the cybersecurity framework developed by the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

(5) DISTRIBUTION OF REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that reimbursement funds are distributed equitably among all applicants for reimbursements 

under the Program according to the needs of the applicants, 

as identified by the applications of the applicants. 

(B) NOTIFICATION.—If, at any time during the 

implementation of the Program, the Commission determines that $1,000,000,000 will not be sufficient to fully 
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fund all approved applications for reimbursements under 

the Program, the Commission shall immediately notify— 

(i) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and 

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and 

(ii) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations 

of the Senate. 

(6) REMOVAL, REPLACEMENT, AND DISPOSAL TERM.— 

(A) DEADLINE.—Except as provided in subparagraphs 

(B) and (C), the permanent removal, replacement, and disposal of any covered communications equipment or services 

identified under paragraph (4)(A)(i) shall be completed not 

later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission 

distributes reimbursement funds to the recipient. 

(B) GENERAL EXTENSION.—The Commission may grant 

an extension of the deadline described in subparagraph 

(A) for 6 months to all recipients of reimbursements under 

the Program if the Commission— 

(i) finds that the supply of replacement communications equipment or services needed by the recipients to achieve the purposes of the Program is inadequate to meet the needs of the recipients; and 

(ii) provides notice and a detailed justification for 

granting the extension to— 

(I) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

of the House of Representatives; and 

(II) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate. 

(C) INDIVIDUAL EXTENSION.— 

(i) PETITION.—A recipient of a reimbursement 

under the Program may petition the Commission for 

an extension for such recipient of the deadline 

described in subparagraph (A) or, if the Commission 

has granted an extension of such deadline under 

subparagraph (B), such deadline as so extended. 

(ii) GRANT.—The Commission may grant a petition 

filed under clause (i) by extending, for the recipient 

that filed the petition, the deadline described in 

subparagraph (A) or, if the Commission has granted 

an extension of such deadline under subparagraph (B), 

such deadline as so extended, for a period of not more 

than 6 months if the Commission finds that, due to 

no fault of such recipient, such recipient is unable 

to complete the permanent removal, replacement, and 

disposal described in subparagraph (A). 

(7) DISPOSAL OF COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR

SERVICES.—The Commission shall include in the regulations 

promulgated under subsection (g) requirements for the disposal 

by a recipient of a reimbursement under the Program of covered 

communications equipment or services identified under paragraph (4)(A)(i) and removed from the network of the recipient 

in order to prevent such equipment or services from being 

used in the networks of providers of advanced communications 

service. 

(8) STATUS UPDATES.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Not less frequently than once every 

90 days beginning on the date on which the Commission 

approves an application for a reimbursement under the 

Program, the recipient of the reimbursement shall submit 

to the Commission a status update on the work of the 

recipient to permanently remove, replace, and dispose of 

the covered communications equipment or services identified under paragraph (4)(A)(i). 

(B) PUBLIC POSTING.—Not earlier than 30 days after 

the date on which the Commission receives a status update 

under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall make such 

status update public on the website of the Commission. 

(C) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not less frequently than 

once every 180 days beginning on the date on which the 

Commission first makes funds available to a recipient of 

a reimbursement under the Program, the Commission shall 

prepare 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— 

(i) the implementation of the Program by the 

Commission; and 

(ii) the work by recipients of reimbursements 

under the Program to permanently remove, replace, 

and dispose of covered communications equipment or 

services identified under paragraph (4)(A)(i). 

(e) MEASURES TO AVOID WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall take all necessary 

steps to avoid waste, fraud, and abuse with respect to the 

Program. 

(2) SPENDING REPORTS.—The Commission shall require 

recipients of reimbursements under the Program to submit 

to the Commission on a regular basis reports regarding how 

reimbursement funds have been spent, including detailed 

accounting of the covered communications equipment or services permanently removed and disposed of, and the replacement 

equipment or services purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise 

obtained, using reimbursement funds. 

(3) AUDITS, REVIEWS, AND FIELD INVESTIGATIONS.—The 

Commission shall conduct— 

(A) regular audits and reviews of reimbursements 

under the Program to confirm that recipients of such 

reimbursements are complying with this Act; and 

(B) random field investigations to ensure that recipients of reimbursements under the Program are performing 

the work such recipients are required to perform under 

the commitments made in the applications of such recipients for reimbursements under the Program, including the 

permanent removal, replacement, and disposal of the covered communications equipment or services identified 

under subsection (d)(4)(A)(i). 

(4) FINAL CERTIFICATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall require a 

recipient of a reimbursement under the Program to submit 

to the Commission, in a form and at an appropriate time 

to be determined by the Commission, a certification stating 

that the recipient— 
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(i) has fully complied with (or is in the process 

of complying with) all terms and conditions of the 

Program; 

(ii) has fully complied with (or is in the process 

of complying with) the commitments made in the 

application of the recipient for the reimbursement; 

(iii) has permanently removed from the communications network of the recipient, replaced, and disposed of (or is in the process of permanently removing, 

replacing, and disposing of) all covered communications 

equipment or services that were in the network of 

the recipient as of the date of the submission of the 

application of the recipient for the reimbursement; and 

(iv) has fully complied with (or is in the process 

of complying with) the timeline submitted by the 

recipient under subparagraph (A)(ii) of paragraph (4) 

of subsection (d) and the other requirements of such 

paragraph. 

(B) UPDATED CERTIFICATION.—If, at the time when a 

recipient of a reimbursement under the Program submits 

a certification under subparagraph (A), the recipient has 

not fully complied as described in clause (i), (ii), or (iv) 

of such subparagraph or has not completed the permanent 

removal, replacement, and disposal described in clause (iii) 

of such subparagraph, the Commission shall require the 

recipient to file an updated certification when the recipient 

has fully complied as described in such clause (i), (ii), 

or (iv) or completed such permanent removal, replacement, 

and disposal. 

(f) EFFECT OF REMOVAL OF EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE FROM

LIST.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—If, after the date on which a recipient 

of a reimbursement under the Program submits the application 

for the reimbursement, any covered communications equipment 

or service that is in the network of the recipient as of such 

date is removed from the list published under section 2(a), 

the recipient may— 

(A) return to the Commission any reimbursement funds 

received for the removal, replacement, and disposal of such 

equipment or service and be released from any requirement 

under this section to remove, replace, or dispose of such 

equipment or service; or 

(B) retain any reimbursement funds received for the 

removal, replacement, and disposal of such equipment or 

service and remain subject to the requirements of this 

section to remove, replace, and dispose of such equipment 

or service as if such equipment or service continued to 

be on the list published under section 2(a). 

(2) ASSURANCES.—In the case of an assurance relating to 

the removal, replacement, or disposal of any equipment or 

service with respect to which the recipient returns to the 

Commission reimbursement funds under paragraph (1)(A), such 

assurance may be satisfied by making an assurance that such 

funds have been returned. 

(g) RULEMAKING.— 
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(1) COMMENCEMENT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall commence a rulemaking to implement this section. 

(2) COMPLETION.—The Commission shall complete the rulemaking under paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the 

date of the enactment of this Act. 

(h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING TIMING OF REIMBURSEMENT.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 

Commission from making a reimbursement under the Program 

to a provider of advanced communications service before the provider incurs the cost of the permanent removal, replacement, and 

disposal of the covered communications equipment or service for 

which the application of the provider has been approved under 

this section. 

(i) EDUCATION EFFORTS.—The Commission shall engage in education efforts with providers of advanced communications service 

to— 

(1) encourage such providers to participate in the Program; 

and 

(2) assist such providers in submitting applications for 

the Program. 

(j) SEPARATE FROM FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.— 

The Program shall be separate from any Federal universal service 

program established under section 254 of the Communications Act 

of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254). 

SEC. 5. REPORTS ON COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR 

SERVICES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Each provider of advanced communications 

service shall submit an annual report to the Commission, in a 

form to be determined by the Commission, regarding whether such 

provider has purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any 

covered communications equipment or service on or after— 

(1) in the case of any covered communications equipment 

or service that is on the initial list published under section 

2(a), August 14, 2018; or 

(2) in the case of any covered communications equipment 

or service that is not on the initial list published under section 

2(a), the date that is 60 days after the date on which the 

Commission places such equipment or service on the list 

required by such section. 

(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—If a provider of advanced communications service certifies to the Commission that such provider 

does not have any covered communications equipment or service 

in the network of such provider, such provider is not required 

to submit a report under subsection (a) after making such certification, unless such provider later purchases, rents, leases, or otherwise obtains any covered communications equipment or service. 

(c) JUSTIFICATION.—If a provider of advanced communications 

service indicates in a report under subsection (a) that such provider 

has purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any covered 

communications equipment or service as described in such subsection, such provider shall include in such report— 

(1) a detailed justification for such action; 

(2) information about whether such covered communications equipment or service has subsequently been removed 

and replaced pursuant to section 4; and 
H. R. 4998—10 

(3) information about whether such provider plans to continue to purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise obtain, or install 

or use, such covered communications equipment or service and, 

if so, why. 

(d) PROCEEDING.—The Commission shall implement this section 

as part of the rulemaking required by section 4(g). 

SEC. 6. HOLD HARMLESS. 

In the case of a person who is a winner of the Connect America 

Fund Phase II auction, has not yet been authorized to receive 

Connect America Fund Phase II support, and demonstrates an 

inability to reasonably meet the build-out and service obligations 

of such person under Connect America Fund Phase II without 

using equipment or services prohibited under this Act, such person 

may withdraw the application of such person for Connect America 

Fund Phase II support without being found in default or subject 

to forfeiture. The Commission may set a deadline to make such 

a withdrawal that is not earlier than the date that is 60 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT. 

(a) VIOLATIONS.—A violation of this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act shall be treated as a violation of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or a regulation promulgated under such Act, respectively. The Commission shall enforce 

this Act and the regulations promulgated under this Act in the 

same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 

powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions 

of the Communications Act of 1934 were incorporated into and 

made a part of this Act. 

(b) ADDITIONAL PENALTIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), in 

addition to penalties under the Communications Act of 1934, 

a recipient of a reimbursement under the Program found to 

have violated section 4, the regulations promulgated under 

such section, or the commitments made by the recipient in 

the application for the reimbursement— 

(A) shall repay to the Commission all reimbursement 

funds provided to the recipient under the Program; 

(B) shall be barred from further participation in the 

Program; 

(C) shall be referred to all appropriate law enforcement 

agencies or officials for further action under applicable 

criminal and civil laws; and 

(D) may be barred by the Commission from participation in other programs of the Commission, including the 

Federal universal service support programs established 

under section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 

U.S.C. 254). 

(2) NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO CURE.—The penalties 

described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to a recipient of 

a reimbursement under the Program unless— 

(A) the Commission provides the recipient with notice 

of the violation; and 

(B) the recipient fails to cure the violation within 180 

days after the Commission provides such notice. 

(c) RECOVERY OF FUNDS.—The Commission shall immediately 

take action to recover all reimbursement funds awarded to a 
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recipient of a reimbursement under the Program in any case in 

which such recipient is required to repay reimbursement funds 

under subsection (b)(1)(A). 

SEC. 8. NTIA PROGRAM FOR PREVENTING FUTURE VULNERABILITIES. 

(a) FUTURE VULNERABILITY PROGRAM.— 

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, including an opportunity 

for notice and comment, the Assistant Secretary, in cooperation 

with the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security, and the Commission, shall establish a program to 

share information regarding supply chain security risks with 

trusted providers of advanced communications service and 

trusted suppliers of communications equipment or services. 

(2) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the program established 

under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall— 

(A) conduct regular briefings and other events to share 

information with trusted providers of advanced communications service and trusted suppliers of communications 

equipment or services; 

(B) engage with trusted providers of advanced communications service and trusted suppliers of communications 

equipment or services, in particular such providers and 

suppliers that— 

(i) are small businesses; or 

(ii) primarily serve rural areas; 

(C) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 plan for— 

(i) declassifying material, when feasible, to help 

share information regarding supply chain security risks 

with trusted providers of advanced communications 

service and trusted suppliers of communications equipment or services; and 

(ii) expediting and expanding the provision of security clearances to facilitate information sharing 

regarding supply chain security risks with trusted providers of advanced communications service and trusted 

suppliers of communications equipment or services; 

and 

(D) ensure that the activities carried out through the 

program are consistent with and, to the extent practicable, 

integrated with, ongoing activities of the Department of 

Homeland Security and the Department of Commerce. 

(3) SCOPE OF PROGRAM.—The program established under 

paragraph (1) shall involve only the sharing of information 

regarding supply chain security risks by the Federal Government to trusted providers of advanced communications service 

and trusted suppliers of communications equipment or services, 

and not the sharing of such information by such providers 

and suppliers to the Federal Government. 

(b) REPRESENTATION ON CSRIC OF INTERESTS OF PUBLIC AND

CONSUMERS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall appoint to the 

Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability 

Council (or any successor thereof), and to each subcommittee, 

workgroup, or other subdivision of the Council (or any such 

successor), at least one member to represent the interests of 

the public and consumers. 

(2) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Commission shall make 

the initial appointments required by paragraph (1) not later 

than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Any member so appointed shall be in addition to the members 

of the Council, or the members of the subdivision of the Council 

to which the appointment is being made, as the case may 

be, as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’ 

means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. 

(2) FOREIGN ADVERSARY.—The term ‘‘foreign adversary’’ 

means any foreign government or foreign nongovernment person engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of 

conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the 

United States or security and safety of United States persons. 

(3) SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY RISK.—The term ‘‘supply chain 

security risk’’ includes specific risk and vulnerability information related to equipment and software. 

(4) TRUSTED.—The term ‘‘trusted’’ means, with respect to 

a provider of advanced communications service or a supplier 

of communications equipment or service, that the Assistant 

Secretary has determined that such provider or supplier is 

not owned by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of 

a foreign adversary. 

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.—The term 

‘‘advanced communications service’’ has the meaning given the 

term ‘‘advanced telecommunications capability’’ in section 706 

of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302). 

(2) APPROPRIATE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY.—The term 

‘‘appropriate national security agency’’ means— 

(A) the Department of Homeland Security; 

(B) the Department of Defense; 

(C) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; 

(D) the National Security Agency; and 

(E) the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

(3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal Communications Commission. 

(4) COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE.—The term 

‘‘communications equipment or service’’ means any equipment 

or service that is essential to the provision of advanced communications service. 

(5) COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OR SERVICE.— 

The term ‘‘covered communications equipment or service’’ 

means any communications equipment or service that is on 

the list published by the Commission under section 2(a). 

(6) CUSTOMERS.—The term ‘‘customers’’ means, with 

respect to a provider of advanced communications service— 
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(A) the customers of such provider; and 

(B) the customers of any affiliate (as defined in section 

3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153)) 

of such provider. 

(7) EXECUTIVE BRANCH INTERAGENCY BODY.—The term 

‘‘executive branch interagency body’’ means an interagency body 

established in the executive branch. 

(8) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an individual or 

entity. 

(9) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means the Secure and 

Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program 

established under section 4(a). 

(10) PROVIDER OF ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE.— 

The term ‘‘provider of advanced communications service’’ means 

a person who provides advanced communications service to 

United States customers. 

(11) RECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘recipient’’ means any provider 

of advanced communications service the application of which 

for a reimbursement under the Program has been approved 

by the Commission, regardless of whether the provider has 

received reimbursement funds. 

(12) REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS.—The term ‘‘reimbursement 

funds’’ means any reimbursement received under the Program. 

SEC. 10. SEVERABILITY. 

If any provision of this Act, or the application of such a provision 

to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the 

remaining provisions of this Act, and the application of such provisions to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected thereby. 

SEC. 11. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 

with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined 

by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 

PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.