Title: Transatlantic Te­le­com­mu­ni­ca­tions Security Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act
This bill directs the Department of State and other federal agencies to help Central and Eastern European countries improve the security of their telecommunications networks.
A project located in a Central or Eastern European country shall be eligible for assistance if it (1) improves telecommunications networks; (2) is inclusive, transparent, economically viable, sustainable, supplied only with secure equipment and services, and compliant with international standards and laws; (3) does not use equipment or services from China or replaces such equipment or services; and (4) enhances telecommunications market integration across the Central or Eastern European region that is secure against malign actors.
To support eligible projects, the State Department shall provide diplomatic and political support and shall also encourage international financial institutions to provide investment support. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and other specified federal agencies shall also provide project support, such as feasibility studies and finance-related support, as necessary.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8899 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8899

  To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United 
States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to 
  improve the security of their telecommunications networks, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2020

Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Wilson of South 
Carolina, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Diaz-Balart, 
     Mr. Cohen, Mr. Case, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Morelle, and Mr. Costa) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United 
States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to 
  improve the security of their telecommunications networks, 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 ``Transatlantic Telecommunications 
Security Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Fifth-generation telecommunications networks in allied 
        and partner countries based on common, secure, transparent, 
        democratic standards have the potential to increase cultural, 
        political, and economic exchanges leading to mutual job 
        creation, closer citizen relations, and stronger democratic 
        institutions;
            (2) the United States has national security and economic 
        interests in assisting Central and Eastern European countries 
        to improve the security of their telecommunications networks by 
        reducing dependence on covered telecommunications equipment or 
        services that are often offered with predatory economic 
        inducements, and replacing them with secure telecommunications 
        equipment or services;
            (3) China's Belt and Road Initiative and the 17+1 
        Initiative seek to undermine Central and Eastern Europe's 
        infrastructure resilience and sovereignty through predatory 
        inducements from state-linked providers of telecommunications 
        equipment or services such as Huawei Technologies Company and 
        ZTE Corporation;
            (4) the United States must assemble a coalition of 
        democratic and like-minded allies and partners to counter the 
        rise of global malign actors such as China and Russia, and 
        build resilience in Central and Eastern Europe against malign 
        influences; and
            (5) in order to ensure robust military coordination and 
        interoperability with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
        (NATO) and transatlantic allies and partners, the United States 
        should ensure that allies' and partners' telecommunications 
        networks are secure and free from potential threats in 
        accordance with the 2019 NATO London Declaration.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to strengthen the transatlantic alliance based on 
        shared values in the face of rising malign influence from the 
        Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, nations 
        that seek to undermine democratic institutions and values;
            (2) to encourage public and private sector investment in 
        European telecommunications infrastructure projects to ensure 
        secure telecommunications and to catalyze economic advancement 
        through the highest standards of transparency, accessibility, 
        and competition;
            (3) to provide economically feasible alternatives to 
        financing from providers of covered telecommunications 
        equipment or services;
            (4) to engage in diplomacy with European allies and 
        partners to strengthen United States and European private 
        sector efforts to develop common telecommunications technology 
        and industry standards, and in turn promote them globally;
            (5) to support the Three Seas Initiative organized by 
        twelve Central and Eastern European countries of the European 
        Union to increase infrastructure resiliency and reduce reliance 
        on malign actors, including in the telecommunications space; 
        and
            (6) to support the people of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and 
        the Western Balkan countries in their desire for integration 
        into euro-Atlantic institutions and economies through enhanced 
        cross-border telecommunications infrastructure connectivity.

SEC. 3. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
              INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.

    (a) In General.--In pursuing the policy described in section 2, the 
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development 
Finance Corporation, the Director of the Trade and Development Agency, 
the Federal Communications Commission, and heads of other relevant 
United States agencies, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite 
the efforts of the Department of State and those agencies in supporting 
the efforts of the European Commission and the governments of Central 
and Eastern European countries to improve the security of their 
telecommunications networks, including through providing diplomatic and 
political support to the European Commission and Central and Eastern 
Europe countries, as necessary--
            (1) to support enhancement of European telecommunications 
        markets, including through early-stage project support and 
        late-stage project support for the construction or improvement 
        of telecommunications and related infrastructure;
            (2) to remove covered telecommunications equipment or 
        services and replace such equipment or services with secure 
        telecommunications equipment or services;
            (3) to support the development of telecommunications 
        networks that are inclusive, transparent, economically viable, 
        financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable, 
        compliant with international standards, laws, and regulations, 
        and supplied by providers of secure telecommunications 
        equipment or services; and
            (4) to facilitate international coordination on cross-
        border telecommunications infrastructure construction and 
        security standards to ensure cross-border telecommunications 
        are secure.
    (b) Project Selection.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, the Chief 
        Executive Officer of the United States International 
        Development Finance Corporation, and the Director of the Trade 
        and Development Agency shall identify telecommunications 
        infrastructure projects that would advance United States 
        national security and be appropriate for United States 
        assistance under this section.
            (2) Project eligibility.--A project is eligible for United 
        States assistance under this section if--
                    (A) the project--
                            (i) improves telecommunications networks 
                        through either hard infrastructure such as 
                        telecommunications lines or equipment or soft 
                        infrastructure such as innovative software 
                        development or cloud services;
                            (ii) is inclusive, transparent, 
                        economically viable, financially, 
                        environmentally, and socially sustainable, 
                        compliant with international standards, laws, 
                        and regulations, and supplied with secure 
                        telecommunications equipment or services solely 
                        by providers of secure telecommunications 
                        equipment or services;
                            (iii) does not use covered 
                        telecommunications equipment or services or 
                        removes covered telecommunications equipment or 
                        services and replaces such equipment or 
                        services with secure telecommunications 
                        equipment or services; and
                            (iv) enhances telecommunications market 
                        integration across the Central or Eastern 
                        European region that is secure from 
                        exploitation by malign actors; and
                    (B) the project is located in a Central or Eastern 
                European country.
            (3) Preference.--In selecting among projects that are 
        eligible under paragraph (2), the agencies described in 
        subsection (a) shall give preference to projects that--
                    (A) can attract funding from the private sector, an 
                international financial institution, the government of 
                the country in which the project will be carried out, 
                or the European Commission;
                    (B) have been designated as available for funding 
                through the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund;
                    (C) are to be carried out in the Three Seas 
                Initiative member nations;
                    (D) are to be carried out in NATO member nations 
                that meet or are making progress toward meeting their 
                commitments to upholding the rule of law and preserving 
                democratic institutions in accordance with the preamble 
                and Article 2 of the NATO Treaty;
                    (E) are to be carried out in NATO member nations 
                that meet or are making demonstrable progress toward 
                meeting their defense spending commitments in 
                accordance with the 2014 NATO Wales Summit Declaration; 
                or
                    (F) have the potential to advance United States 
                economic interests.
    (c) Types of Assistance.--
            (1) Diplomatic and political support.--The Secretary of 
        State shall provide diplomatic and political support to the 
        European Commission and Central and Eastern European countries, 
        as necessary, including by using the diplomatic and political 
        influence and expertise of the Department of State to build the 
        capacity of Central and Eastern European countries to resolve 
        any impediments to the development of projects selected under 
        subsection (b).
            (2) International financial institutions support.--The 
        Secretary of State shall seek to encourage international 
        financial institutions, including the European Bank for 
        Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, 
        and the International Monetary Fund, the Foreign, Commonwealth, 
        and Development Office of the Government of the United Kingdom, 
        the Agency for International Cooperation of the Government of 
        Germany, and the Development Agency of the Government of France 
        to invest in telecommunications infrastructure resilience in 
        Central and Eastern Europe.
            (3) Early-stage project support.--The Director of the Trade 
        and Development Agency shall provide early-stage project 
        support with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), 
        as necessary, including project support in middle- and upper-
        income countries.
            (4) Late-stage project support.--Agencies described in 
        subsection (a) that provide late-stage project support shall do 
        so with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as 
        necessary.
            (5) United states international development finance 
        corporation support.--The United States International 
        Development Finance Corporation is authorized to provide 
        support for projects under this section in Central and Eastern 
        European countries that are countries with upper-middle-income 
        economies or high-income economies (as those terms are defined 
        by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 
        and the International Development Association (collectively 
        referred to as the ``World Bank'')) notwithstanding the 
        restriction under section 1412(c)(2) of the Better Utilization 
        of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 
        9612(c)(2)).

SEC. 4. PROGRESS REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
progress made in providing assistance for projects under section 3 that 
includes--
            (1) a description of the telecommunications infrastructure 
        projects the United States has identified for such assistance; 
        and
            (2) for each such project--
                    (A) a description of the role of the United States 
                in the project, including in early-stage project 
                support and late-stage project support;
                    (B) the amount and form of debt financing, equity 
                financing, and insurance provided by the United States 
                Government, the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, 
                international financial institutions, including the 
                European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the 
                European Investment Bank, and the International 
                Monetary Fund, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and 
                Development Office of the Government of the United 
                Kingdom, the Agency for International Cooperation of 
                the Government of Germany, and the Development Agency 
                of the Government of France for the project;
                    (C) the contractual terms of the project that 
                preclude the use of covered telecommunications 
                equipment or services and steps taken to ensure 
                providers of telecommunications equipment or services 
                meet such contractual terms; and
                    (D) an update on the progress made on the project 
                as of the date of the report.
    (b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Central or eastern european country.--The term 
        ``Central or Eastern European country'' includes--
                    (A) Albania;
                    (B) Austria
                    (C) Bosnia and Herzegovina;
                    (D) Bulgaria;
                    (E) Croatia;
                    (F) Cyprus;
                    (G) the Czech Republic;
                    (H) Estonia;
                    (I) Greece;
                    (J) Hungary;
                    (K) Kosovo;
                    (L) Latvia;
                    (M) Lithuania;
                    (N) Moldova;
                    (O) Montenegro;
                    (P) North Macedonia;
                    (Q) Poland;
                    (R) Romania;
                    (S) Serbia;
                    (T) Slovakia;
                    (U) Slovenia; and
                    (V) Ukraine.
            (2) Covered foreign country.--The term ``covered foreign 
        country'' means the People's Republic of China.
            (3) Covered telecommunications equipment or services.--The 
        term ``covered telecommunications equipment or services'' means 
        any of the following:
                    (A) Telecommunications equipment or services 
                produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company or 
                ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such 
                entities).
                    (B) Telecommunications equipment or services 
                produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of 
                State, in consultation with the Director of National 
                Intelligence, reasonably believes to be an entity owned 
                or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the 
                government of a covered foreign country.
            (4) Early-stage project support.--The term ``early-stage 
        project support'' includes--
                    (A) feasibility studies;
                    (B) resource evaluations;
                    (C) project appraisal and costing;
                    (D) pilot projects;
                    (E) commercial support, such as trade missions, 
                reverse trade missions, technical workshops, 
                international buyer programs, and international partner 
                searchers to link suppliers to projects;
                    (F) technical assistance and other guidance to 
                improve the local regulatory environment and market 
                frameworks to encourage transparent competition and 
                enhance telecommunications security; and
                    (G) long-term telecommunications sector planning.
            (5) Late-stage project support.--The term ``late-stage 
        project support'' includes debt financing, equity financing, 
        insurance, and transaction advisory services.
            (6) Secure telecommunications equipment or services.--The 
        term ``secure telecommunications equipment or services'' means 
        telecommunications equipment or services that are not, and do 
        not contain, covered telecommunications equipment or services.
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