Bill > S1563

This bill establishes an open network architecture testbed at the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop and demonstrate network architectures and applications, including Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN) technology, Virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) technology, and cloud native technologies. The bill requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to define metrics and parameters for the testbed, adopt necessary rules in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and begin development within 180 days. The bill also authorizes $20 million in funding for the administration of the testbed in fiscal year 2022. Additionally, the bill establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary, to fund private sector entities based in the United States to participate in eligible standards-setting bodies related to open network architecture technologies, with an authorization of $30 million in total for fiscal years through 2025.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1563/all-info