FIREWALL Act

Key Points

• This bill stops federal money from the FCC and NTIA from going to any person or business that buys fiber-optic cable from countries of concern. These countries include China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
• The rule applies if the cable is bought from a company owned or controlled by those foreign governments or their officials. It covers both standard and newer types of fiber-optic technology used for high-speed internet.
• The goal is to protect U.S. communications networks from potential spying or interference by foreign adversaries. By cutting off funding, it encourages companies to buy equipment from more trusted sources.
• If passed, these rules would start 90 days after the bill becomes law. It would mainly affect internet service providers and tech companies that rely on government grants to build out their networks.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.