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S. 503 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission to assess and evaluate how the availability of network equipment has impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability. The bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to add this assessment requirement to the FCC's regular reporting obligations. The assessment should examine the telecommunications network equipment supply chain and its effects on broadband deployment to the extent data is available to the FCC. The bill clarifies that it does not require telecommunications providers to submit more information to the FCC than was previously required. The provisions are technical amendments to existing FCC reporting requirements.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
3 cosponsors
- Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] (R-WV)
- Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS)
- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI)
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to John W. Hickenlooper’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES $21,750
- THE WONDERFUL COMPANY $13,200
- ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ $13,200
- WALKER & DUNLOP $6,600
- BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION $6,600
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for John W. Hickenlooper → · Outside spending →
Actions (10)
- Nov 10, 2025 Held at the desk. · house
- Nov 10, 2025 Received in the House. · house
- Nov 7, 2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House. · senate
- Nov 4, 2025 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7904-7905; text: CR S7905) · senate
- Nov 4, 2025 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 29, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 171. · senate
- Sep 29, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-66. · senate
- May 21, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. · senate
- Feb 10, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Feb 10, 2025 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 2025
Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
September 29, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Network Equipment Transparency Act” or the “NET Act”.
SEC. 2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPLY CHAIN CONSIDERATION.
(a) In General.—Section 13(b) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 163(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3) assess, to the extent that data is available to the Commission, how the availability of network equipment may have impacted the deployment of advanced telecommunications capability during the applicable reporting period;”.
(b) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be construed to require any provider of advanced telecommunications capability to provide the Federal Communications Commission more information than was required for the purpose of section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 163) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.—Section 13 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 163), as amended by subsection
(a), is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking “(3)” and inserting “(4)”; and
(B) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking “(4)” and inserting “(5)”;
(2) in subsection (c), by striking “(b)(4)” and inserting
“(b)(5)”; and
(3) in subsection (d)(3), by striking “(b)(3)” and inserting “(b)(4)”. Calendar No. 171
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 503
[Report No. 119-66]
A BILL
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of universal service, and for other purposes.
September 29, 2025
Reported without amendment
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