Small telecom providers get federal roadmap to break free from vendor lock-in

What it does

This bill directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to small communications network providers about Open RAN networks—a technology that allows wireless networks to use equipment from multiple vendors instead of being locked into a single vendor. The bill also helps small providers learn about and participate in an existing federal grant program (the Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program) that funds open network development.

Why we flagged it

The bill's functional purpose is to lower information and participation barriers for small providers entering the open wireless technology market, thereby promoting competitive diversity in telecommunications infrastructure.

What the text implies

• By promoting Open RAN adoption among small providers, the bill indirectly supports U.S. supply-chain resilience in wireless infrastructure by reducing dependence on vertically integrated vendors.
• Outreach to small providers may accelerate market fragmentation in wireless networks, which could create operational complexity for consumers but also reduce single-vendor lock-in risk.
• The bill references an existing 2021 grant program but does not appropriate new funds—effectiveness depends on whether that program has remaining capacity and funding.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Small communications providers gain access to information and federal grant opportunities that were previously less visible to them, lowering barriers to participation in open wireless technology. This promotes competition and vendor diversity in telecommunications, which typically benefits consumers through lower prices and more innovation.

Who stands to gain

• small communications network providers
• open-standards wireless equipment manufacturers
• telecommunications startups and regional carriers

Named in the bill

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program, William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Public Law 116–283, Open RAN networks, small communications network providers

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Republicans.

• Mar 11, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 11, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”
• Apr 8, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Apr 8, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote”
• Jul 14, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3217)”
• Jul 14, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Latta moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

2 lobbying clients named this bill on 4 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $7,050,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 22 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 41% of bills with at least one filing.

Troy Carter, the sponsor, reported $1,021,748 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Ncta - the Internet & Television Association — $6,870,000 on 2 filings
• Cerberus Capital Management, L.p. — $180,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.