Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) reintroduced the Timely Replacement Under Secure and Trusted for Early and Dependable (TRUSTED) Broadband Networks Act, a bill to build on efforts to secure rural and small telecommunications providers’ networks from bad actors and foreign threats.

“Telecommunications equipment from Chinese Communist Party-subsidized telecommunications equipment providers and other bad actors must be removed quickly from across networks in the United States. I helped champion the legislation that is now law to help small and rural providers rip this suspect equipment out of their networks and replace it with safe, secure equipment. With the reintroduction of the TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act, I’m doubling down on my efforts to help small and rural providers secure their networks by streamlining the permitting process to get rid of suspect equipment. I’m proud that my legislation to quickly remove this threat in broadband networks in local communities is part of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s agenda to improve broadband infrastructure across the nation,” said Guthrie.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), “Many families and businesses across the country still lack access to broadband, which is a critical part of today’s economy. Energy and Commerce is leading to remove regulatory red tape, deploy broadband faster, get Americans across the country connected, and close the digital divide once and for all. The legislative package we’ve unveiled will help us connect all Americans, and I commend Rep. Guthrie for his leadership on the TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act, which will help us achieve these goals.”

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 that Guthrie helped champion was signed into law March 2020 and helps small and rural providers with the cost of removing suspect equipment from their networks and replacing that equipment with secure equipment. The TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act advances the goal of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. Guthrie’s TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act will be considered at a Subcommittee on Communications and Technology markup on May 17, 2023.

Click HERE to read the bill text of the TRUSTED Broadband Networks Act.

Original source can be found here