Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act

This bill focuses on keeping phone and internet networks used by U.S. allies and U.S. embassies safe from high‑risk vendors, especially companies like Huawei and ZTE that are closely linked to the Chinese government. Congress states that unsafe telecom gear can threaten U.S. national security and that countries should use trusted equipment and services.

It requires the State Department to report which allied countries with U.S. defense agreements have any “untrusted” equipment in their 5G networks, which carriers use it, whether it sits in the core or at the edges of the network, and any plans to rip and replace it. The report must also note plans to use risky gear in Open RAN or future 6G networks. This first report is due within 180 days of the bill becoming law, then once a year for two years. The State Department must also check U.S. embassies for banned or risky equipment and services, explain how a 2019 law’s ban is being carried out, list any delays or waivers, and assess whether embassy staff devices are serviced by Huawei, ZTE, or other China‑based firms. That report is due within 180 days and can be unclassified with a classified add‑on if needed. Finally, the bill tells the State Department to support overseas telecom projects that use trusted gear, using diplomacy to clear roadblocks, with early‑stage help encouraged from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Key points

• Who is affected: U.S. allies with defense agreements, their mobile carriers, the U.S. State Department, U.S. embassies and staff, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency .
• What changes: New reporting on risky telecom gear abroad and in U.S. embassies; tracking of rip‑and‑replace plans; checks on Open RAN/6G plans; diplomatic support for trusted telecom projects; and oversight of any waivers to existing bans .
• When: Reports due within 180 days; the allies report repeats annually for two years .