II 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4998 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 17, 2019 
Received 
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 com-
munications equipment or services posing such risks, and 
for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 EQUIP-
MENT OR SERVICES POSING NATIONAL SECU-
RITY 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 Commis-
sion shall publish on its website a list of covered commu-
nications equipment or services. 
(b) PUBLICATION BY COMMISSION.—The Commis-
sion 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 se-
curity of the United States or the security and safe-
ty of United States persons; and 
(2) is capable of— 
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(A) routing or redirecting user data traffic 
or permitting visibility into any user data or 
packets that such equipment or service trans-
mits or otherwise handles; 
(B) causing the network of a provider of 
advanced communications service to be dis-
rupted remotely; or 
(C) otherwise posing an unacceptable risk 
to the national security of the United States or 
the security and safety of United States per-
sons. 
(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 se-
curity 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 exec-
utive branch interagency body with appropriate na-
tional security expertise, including the Federal Ac-
quisition Security Council established under section 
1322(a) of title 41, United States Code. 
(2) A specific determination made by the De-
partment of Commerce pursuant to Executive Order 
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No. 13873 (84 Fed. Reg. 22689; relating to secur-
ing the information and communications technology 
and services supply chain). 
(3) The communications equipment or service 
being covered telecommunications equipment or serv-
ices, as defined in section 889(f)(3) of the John S. 
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 
1918). 
(4) A specific determination made by an appro-
priate national security agency. 
(d) UPDATING OF LIST.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall peri-
odically update the list published under subsection 
(a) to address changes in the determinations de-
scribed 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 addi-
tional 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 para-
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required to revisit such action, but only to the extent such 
action is consistent with this section. 
SEC. 4. SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NET-
WORKS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall establish a 
reimbursement program, to be known as the ‘‘Secure and 
Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Pro-
gram’’, to make reimbursements to providers of advanced 
communications service to replace covered communica-
tions equipment or services. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—The Commission may not make a 
reimbursement under the Program to a provider of ad-
vanced 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 reimburse-
ment under the Program shall use reimbursement 
funds solely for the purposes of— 
(A) permanently removing covered commu-
nications equipment or services purchased, 
rented, leased, or otherwise obtained before— 
(i) in the case of any covered commu-
nications equipment or services that are on 
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the initial list published under section 2(a), 
August 14, 2018; or 
(ii) in the case of any covered commu-
nications equipment or services that are 
not on the initial list published under sec-
tion 2(a), the date that is 60 days after 
the date on which the Commission places 
such equipment or services on the list re-
quired by such section; 
(B) replacing the covered communications 
equipment or services removed as described in 
subparagraph (A) with communications equip-
ment or services that are not covered commu-
nications equipment or services; and 
(C) disposing of the covered communica-
tions equipment or services removed as de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) in accordance with 
the requirements under subsection (d)(7). 
(2) LIMITATIONS.—A recipient of a reimburse-
ment under the Program may not— 
(A) use reimbursement funds to remove, 
replace, or dispose of any covered communica-
tions equipment or service purchased, rented, 
leased, or otherwise obtained on or after— 
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(i) in the case of any covered commu-
nications 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 commu-
nications 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; or 
(B) purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise ob-
tain any covered communications equipment or 
service, using reimbursement funds or any 
other funds (including funds derived from pri-
vate sources). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) SUGGESTED REPLACEMENTS.— 
(A) DEVELOPMENT OF LIST.—The Com-
mission shall develop a list of suggested replace-
ments of both physical and virtual communica-
tions equipment, application and management 
software, and services or categories of replace-
ments of both physical and virtual communica-
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tions 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 reim-
bursement 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 Commis-
sion 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— 
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(I) update the initial reimburse-
ment cost estimate submitted under 
clause (i); and 
(II) submit additional supporting 
materials substantiating an updated 
cost estimate submitted under sub-
clause (I). 
(C) MITIGATION
OF
BURDEN.—In devel-
oping the application process under this para-
graph, the Commission shall take reasonable 
steps to mitigate the administrative burdens 
and costs associated with the application proc-
ess, 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 ap-
plication 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 deter-
mines that, because an excessive number of 
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applications have been filed at one time, 
the Commission needs additional time for 
employees of the Commission to process 
the applications, the Commission may ex-
tend the deadline described in clause (i) for 
not more than 45 days. 
(B) OPPORTUNITY
FOR
APPLICANT
TO 
CURE DEFICIENCY.—If the Commission deter-
mines that an application is materially deficient 
(including by lacking an adequate cost estimate 
or adequate supporting materials), the Commis-
sion shall provide the applicant a 15-day period 
to cure the defect before denying the applica-
tion. 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 ap-
plication for a reimbursement under the Pro-
gram shall not preclude the applicant from re-
submitting the application or submitting a new 
application for a reimbursement under the Pro-
gram at a later date. 
(4) CERTIFICATIONS.—An applicant for a reim-
bursement under the Program shall, in the applica-
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tion 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 commu-
nications equipment or services that 
are in the communications network of 
the applicant as of such date; and 
(II) the disposal of the equip-
ment 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 perma-
nent removal, replacement, and disposal of 
the covered communications equipment or 
services identified under clause (i), which 
timeline shall be submitted to the Commis-
sion as part of the application; and 
(B) beginning on the date of the approval 
of the application, the applicant— 
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(i) will not purchase, rent, lease, or 
otherwise obtain covered communications 
equipment or services, using reimburse-
ment funds or any other funds (including 
funds derived from private sources); and 
(ii) in developing and tailoring the 
risk management practices of the appli-
cant, will consult and consider the stand-
ards, guidelines, and best practices set 
forth in the cybersecurity framework devel-
oped by the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology. 
(5) 
DISTRIBUTION
OF
REIMBURSEMENT 
FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
make reasonable efforts to ensure that reim-
bursement funds are distributed equitably 
among all applicants for reimbursements under 
the Program according to the needs of the ap-
plicants, as identified by the applications of the 
applicants. 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—If, at any time dur-
ing the implementation of the Program, the 
Commission determines that $1,000,000,000 
will not be sufficient to fully fund all approved 
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applications for reimbursements under the Pro-
gram, the Commission shall immediately no-
tify— 
(i) the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the House of Representatives; 
and 
(ii) the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
(6) REMOVAL, REPLACEMENT, AND DISPOSAL 
TERM.— 
(A) DEADLINE.—Except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the permanent re-
moval, 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 Commis-
sion may grant an extension of the deadline de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) for 6 months to all 
recipients of reimbursements under the Pro-
gram if the Commission— 
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(i) finds that the supply of replace-
ment communications equipment or serv-
ices 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 jus-
tification for granting the extension to— 
(I) the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Represent-
atives; and 
(II) the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate. 
(C) INDIVIDUAL EXTENSION.— 
(i) PETITION.—A recipient of a reim-
bursement under the Program may peti-
tion 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 
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petition, the deadline described in subpara-
graph (A) or, if the Commission has grant-
ed an extension of such deadline under 
subparagraph (B), such deadline as so ex-
tended, 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 re-
moval, replacement, and disposal described 
in subparagraph (A). 
(7) DISPOSAL OF COVERED COMMUNICATIONS 
EQUIPMENT OR SERVICES.—The Commission shall 
include in the regulations promulgated under sub-
section (g) requirements for the disposal by a recipi-
ent of a reimbursement under the Program of cov-
ered communications equipment or services identi-
fied 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 net-
works of providers of advanced communications serv-
ice. 
(8) STATUS UPDATES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not less frequently 
than once every 90 days beginning on the date 
on which the Commission approves an applica-
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tion 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 para-
graph (4)(A)(i). 
(B) PUBLIC
POSTING.—Not earlier than 
30 days after the date on which the Commis-
sion receives a status update under subpara-
graph (A), the Commission shall make such sta-
tus update public on the website of the Com-
mission. 
(C) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not less fre-
quently than once every 180 days beginning on 
the date on which the Commission first makes 
funds available to a recipient of a reimburse-
ment under the Program, the Commission shall 
prepare and submit to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a re-
port on— 
(i) the implementation of the Program 
by the Commission; and 
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(ii) the work by recipients of reim-
bursements under the Program to perma-
nently remove, replace, and dispose of cov-
ered 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 per-
manently removed and disposed of, and the replace-
ment equipment or services purchased, rented, 
leased, or otherwise obtained, using reimbursement 
funds. 
(3) AUDITS, REVIEWS, AND FIELD INVESTIGA-
TIONS.—The Commission shall conduct— 
(A) regular audits and reviews of reim-
bursements under the Program to confirm that 
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ments made in the application of the re-
cipient for the reimbursement; 
(iii) has permanently removed from 
the communications network of the recipi-
ent, replaced, and disposed of (or is in the 
process of permanently removing, replac-
ing, and disposing of) all covered commu-
nications 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 subpara-
graph (A)(ii) of paragraph (4) of sub-
section (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 sub-
paragraph (A), the recipient has not fully com-
plied 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, 
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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 re-
moval, replacement, and disposal. 
(f) EFFECT OF REMOVAL OF EQUIPMENT OR SERV-
ICE 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 re-
moved from the list published under section 2(a), 
the recipient may— 
(A) return to the Commission any reim-
bursement funds received for the removal, re-
placement, 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 re-
ceived for the removal, replacement, and dis-
posal of such equipment or service and remain 
subject to the requirements of this section to 
remove, replace, and dispose of such equipment 
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or service as if such equipment or service con-
tinued 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.— 
(1) COMMENCEMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall commence a rulemaking to imple-
ment this section. 
(2) COMPLETION.—The Commission shall com-
plete 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 con-
strued to prohibit the Commission from making a reim-
bursement under the Program to a provider of advanced 
communications service before the provider incurs the cost 
of the permanent removal, replacement, and disposal of 
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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 applica-
tions for the Program. 
(j) SEPARATE FROM FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE 
PROGRAMS.—The Program shall be separate from any 
Federal universal service program established under sec-
tion 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
254). 
SEC. 5. REPORTS ON COVERED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIP-
MENT OR SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each provider of advanced com-
munications service shall submit an annual report to the 
Commission, in a form to be determined by the Commis-
sion, regarding whether such provider has purchased, 
rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any covered commu-
nications equipment or service on or after— 
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(1) in the case of any covered communications 
equipment or service that is on the initial list pub-
lished 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 ad-
vanced communications service certifies to the Commis-
sion that such provider does not have any covered commu-
nications equipment or service in the network of such pro-
vider, such provider is not required to submit a report 
under subsection (a) after making such certification, un-
less such provider later purchases, rents, leases, or other-
wise obtains any covered communications equipment or 
service. 
(c) JUSTIFICATION.—If a provider of advanced com-
munications service indicates in a report under subsection 
(a) that such provider has purchased, rented, leased, or 
otherwise obtained any covered communications equip-
ment or service as described in such subsection, such pro-
vider shall include in such report— 
(1) a detailed justification for such action; 
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(2) information about whether such covered 
communications equipment or service has subse-
quently been removed and replaced pursuant to sec-
tion 4; and 
(3) information about whether such provider 
plans to continue to purchase, rent, lease, or other-
wise obtain, or install or use, such covered commu-
nications 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 Con-
nect America Fund Phase II auction, has not yet been 
authorized to receive Connect America Fund Phase II sup-
port, 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 enact-
ment of this Act. 
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SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) VIOLATIONS.—A violation of this Act or a regula-
tion promulgated under this Act shall be treated as a vio-
lation of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 
et seq.) or a regulation promulgated under such Act, re-
spectively. The Commission shall enforce this Act and the 
regulations promulgated under this Act in the same man-
ner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 
powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and pro-
visions of the Communications Act of 1934 were incor-
porated into and made a part of this Act. 
(b) ADDITIONAL PENALTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), in addition to penalties under the Com-
munications Act of 1934, a recipient of a reimburse-
ment under the Program found to have violated sec-
tion 4, the regulations promulgated under such sec-
tion, or the commitments made by the recipient in 
the application for the reimbursement— 
(A) shall repay to the Commission all reim-
bursement funds provided to the recipient 
under the Program; 
(B) shall be barred from further participa-
tion in the Program; 
(C) shall be referred to all appropriate law 
enforcement agencies or officials for further ac-
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tion 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 sec-
tion 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 Pro-
gram 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 recipient of a reimbursement under 
the Program in any case in which such recipient is re-
quired to repay reimbursement funds under subsection 
(b)(1)(A). 
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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 Assist-
ant 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 pro-
gram 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 Sec-
retary shall— 
(A) conduct regular briefings and other 
events to share information with trusted pro-
viders of advanced communications service and 
trusted suppliers of communications equipment 
or services; 
(B) engage with trusted providers of ad-
vanced communications service and trusted sup-
pliers of communications equipment or services, 
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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 fea-
sible, to help share information regarding 
supply chain security risks with trusted 
providers of advanced communications 
service and trusted suppliers of commu-
nications equipment or services; and 
(ii) expediting and expanding the pro-
vision of security clearances to facilitate in-
formation sharing regarding supply chain 
security risks with trusted providers of ad-
vanced 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, 
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to the extent practicable, integrated with, ongo-
ing activities of the Department of Homeland 
Security and the Department of Commerce. 
(3) SCOPE OF PROGRAM.—The program estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall involve only the 
sharing of information regarding supply chain secu-
rity risks by the Federal Government to trusted pro-
viders 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 Govern-
ment. 
(b) REPRESENTATION ON CSRIC OF INTERESTS OF 
PUBLIC AND CONSUMERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall ap-
point to the Communications Security, Reliability, 
and Interoperability Council (or any successor there-
of), 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 ap-
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pointed 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 ‘‘Assist-
ant 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 pat-
tern or serious instances of conduct significantly ad-
verse 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 communica-
tions service or a supplier of communications equip-
ment or service, that the Assistant Secretary has de-
termined that such provider or supplier is not owned 
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by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of a for-
eign adversary. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVANCED
COMMUNICATIONS
SERVICE.— 
The term ‘‘advanced communications service’’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘‘advanced telecommuni-
cations capability’’ in section 706 of the Tele-
communications Act of 1996 (47 U.S.C. 1302). 
(2) APPROPRIATE NATIONAL SECURITY AGEN-
CY.—The term ‘‘appropriate national security agen-
cy’’ 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
SERV-
ICE.—The term ‘‘communications equipment or serv-
ice’’ means any equipment or service that is essential 
to the provision of advanced communications service. 
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(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 com-
munications service— 
(A) the customers of such provider; and 
(B) the customers of any affiliate (as de-
fined 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 in-
dividual 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
COMMUNICA-
TIONS SERVICE.—The term ‘‘provider of advanced 
communications service’’ means a person who pro-
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vides 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, re-
gardless of whether the provider has received reim-
bursement funds. 
(12) REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS.—The term ‘‘re-
imbursement funds’’ means any reimbursement re-
ceived 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 cir-
cumstance, 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, pro-
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vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 16, 
2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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