Sponsors (2)
The bill helps small and rural providers modernize networks and boosts competition to potentially lower costs for consumers, at the trade-off of introducing potential Open RAN security/interoperability risks and modest additional federal resource costs.
Small and rural broadband and wireless providers are given technical assistance and targeted information (including about the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program) to evaluate and adopt Open RAN, lowering barriers to modernizing networks and applying for federal funding.
American consumers and small providers benefit from promoting open, multi-vendor Open RAN standards because increased competition and reduced vendor lock-in can lower equipment and service costs.
Rural communities and small providers could face increased network reliability or security risks if newer Open RAN architectures are deployed without thorough vetting and interoperability/security safeguards.
U.S. taxpayers may incur additional federal spending or opportunity costs because Commerce will need to dedicate resources to outreach and assistance, potentially diverting staff time from other programs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Department of Commerce to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications providers about Open RAN and related grant opportunities.
Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information (through the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth) to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers about Open RAN and other open network architectures, and to inform them about participation in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program established by the FY2021 NDAA. The bill also defines terms such as “Assistant Secretary,” “open network architecture,” and “Open RAN network.”
Introduced March 11, 2025 by Troy Carter · Last progress July 15, 2025