Overview
Title
An Act To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to take certain actions to enhance the representation of the United States and promote United States leadership in communications standards-setting bodies, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H. R. 1377 is a plan to help the U.S. be a leader in making rules for how new phones and computers talk to each other, like with 5G. It makes sure that U.S. companies can join in these meetings, unless they pose a security threat.
Summary AI
H. R. 1377, titled the “Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023,” directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to enhance U.S. representation and leadership in global standards-setting bodies for communications, particularly those involved with 5G and future wireless technologies. The bill ensures participation and support for U.S. companies and stakeholders in these organizations, barring those considered a national security risk. It mandates a briefing to Congressional Committees on strategy implementation within 60 days of enactment.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The "Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023," seeks to bolster the U.S.'s influence in international communications standards-setting bodies, specifically focusing on standards for 5G networks and future wireless communication generations. The bill mandates the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to collaborate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Together, they will enhance U.S. representation and leadership in these organizations by encouraging the participation of a variety of stakeholders and offering technical expertise—except for those entities determined to be a national security threat.
Significant Issues
A primary concern with this legislation lies in its definition and application of the term "not trusted." The criteria for determining whether a company or stakeholder is "not trusted" are based on decisions from various government entities, leading to potential inconsistency and lack of clarity. This ambiguity may result in confusion for companies and stakeholders trying to engage in these important standards-setting processes.
Moreover, the bill does not outline any mechanism for stakeholders to challenge a "not trusted" designation, raising fairness and transparency issues. This omission could potentially leave affected parties without recourse if they disagree with the determination.
Additionally, the wording in the bill around "equitably encouraging" participation and "equitably offering technical expertise" may lead to subjective interpretation and implementation. This subjectivity could invite potential bias or favoritism, potentially affecting the equitable involvement of various stakeholders.
Broad Public Impact
By promoting U.S. leadership in communications standards-setting bodies, the bill aims to influence the global direction of important technological standards. This could potentially lead to benefits for American consumers and businesses through the adoption of standards that reflect U.S. values and technological innovation. However, the lack of clarity surrounding which entities qualify as "not trusted" may lead to legal challenges or diplomatic tensions if international partners feel arbitrarily excluded from participation.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Technology Companies: For trusted stakeholders, the bill presents an opportunity to take a leading role in global standards-setting, potentially giving U.S. companies a competitive advantage in the international communications market. However, companies labeled as "not trusted" might face significant setbacks, potentially limiting their ability to contribute to or influence international technology standards.
Government Entities: The bill places a substantial responsibility on the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, as well as on other governmental bodies to make and communicate "not trusted" determinations. Effectively balancing national security concerns with fair and consistent determinations could be challenging.
International Partners: U.S. leadership in setting standards may affect international relations, as foreign stakeholders could perceive the exclusion criteria as an extraterritorial application of U.S. policy, which might complicate international collaborations in technology development.
In conclusion, while the bill aims to reinforce U.S. influence in developing future communication standards, its effectiveness will largely depend on how transparently and consistently it addresses the challenges of defining and applying its exclusion criteria. This bill's success in enhancing the U.S.'s technological leadership will be shaped by its execution and the reception by both domestic and international stakeholders.
Issues
The definition of 'not trusted' in Section 2 could lead to inconsistency and lack of clarity because it depends on determinations from various entities, potentially affecting which companies or stakeholders are excluded from participation in standards-setting bodies.
Section 2 does not outline a clear mechanism for companies or stakeholders to contest a 'not trusted' status, which raises concerns about fairness and transparency in how such determinations are made and challenged.
The language used in Section 2, such as 'equitably encourage' and 'equitably offer technical expertise,' could be subjective, resulting in varied interpretation and implementation, which might lead to potential bias or favoritism.
Section 1 lacks substantive content and does not provide significant information for auditing purposes, as it only contains the short title of the Act.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states that it may be referred to as the "Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2023."
2. Representation and leadership of United States in communications standards-setting bodies Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information will work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to strengthen U.S. participation and leadership in communications standards-setting organizations, except those deemed a national security threat. They will ensure diverse participation and provide technical expertise while excluding any untrustworthy entities.