To provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
Passed HouseReceived; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, …
Passed House (inferred from eh version)
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the …
Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. Hudson) introduced …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Open RAN Outreach Act directs the Department of Commerce to educate and assist small telecommunications providers about Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology. The bill aims to help smaller wireless carriers understand and adopt open, interoperable network standards that reduce dependence on single equipment vendors.
Who Benefits and How
Small communications network providers benefit from free government outreach and technical assistance about Open RAN technology and how to participate in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program. Open RAN equipment vendors may benefit from increased awareness and potential adoption by small carriers. The bill promotes competition in the wireless equipment market by encouraging alternatives to proprietary systems.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Commerce, specifically the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within NTIA, must allocate staff time and resources to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance. Taxpayers bear the administrative cost of this program, though no specific funding is appropriated in this bill. The burden is relatively minor as the bill only mandates outreach activities, not grants or regulatory changes.
Key Provisions
- Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct outreach to small communications network providers about Open RAN technology
- Mandates technical assistance to help small providers understand the benefits and challenges of open network architectures
- Specifically requires raising awareness about the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program, which provides funding for development of open standards-based wireless technology
- Defines Open RAN networks as those following Open Radio Access Network architecture and open standards for multi-vendor equipment interoperability
- Establishes that "open network architecture" includes open core and open transport in addition to Open RAN
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers regarding Open RAN networks and participation in the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Support adoption of open standards and interoperable wireless network technologies through education and technical assistance to small providers"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Small communications network providers (receive free outreach and technical assistance)
- Open RAN technology vendors (increased awareness may drive adoption)
- Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program applicants (improved awareness and participation)
Likely Burden Bearers
- Department of Commerce/NTIA (must dedicate staff and resources to outreach and technical assistance)
- Taxpayers (funding for federal outreach activities, though no specific appropriation in this bill)
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_assistant_secretary"
- → Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, acting through the head of the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth
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
A wireless network that follows the Open Radio Access Network architecture and published open standards for multi-vendor network equipment interoperability
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology