Open RAN Outreach Act

Bill: 118-hr-1340
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32]
Introduced: 2023-03-03
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Government information and archives

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-24
text: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Open RAN Outreach Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers to raise awareness of the benefits, uses, and challenges of Open RAN networks and other open network architectures. Open RAN networks are wireless networks that follow the Open Radio Access Network approach to standardization, promoting the use of open interface standards in the portion of the telecommunications network that connects wireless devices (e.g., mobile phones) to the core of the network.</p> <p>The NTIA must also conduct outreach and provide assistance regarding participation in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1340 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 3, 2023 Mr. Allred (for himself, Mr. Hudson , and Mr. Guthrie ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Open RAN Outreach Act . 2. Outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks (a) In general The Assistant Secretary shall conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers— (1) to raise awareness regarding the uses, benefits, and challenges of Open RAN networks and other open network architectures; and (2) regarding participation in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program established under section 9202(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( Public Law 116–283 ). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Assistant Secretary The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth. (2) Open network architecture The term open network architecture means Open RAN networks and other network elements that follow a set of published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability, including open core and open transport. (3) Open RAN network The term Open RAN network means a wireless network that follows the Open Radio Access Network approach to standardization adopted by the O–RAN Alliance, Telecom Infra Project, or Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), or any similar set of published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability.