Trump Signs Secure 5G and Beyond Act, Broadband Mapping Legislative Package
President Donald Trump signed the Secure 5G and Beyond Act (S-893) and Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act broadband mapping legislative package (S-1822) Monday, to applause from lawmakers and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. S-893 requires the president to develop…
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a strategy for ensuring the security of 5G networks and infrastructure (see 2003110074). S-1822 requires the FCC to collect more granular broadband coverage data and create a user-friendly challenge process. It includes language from the House-passed Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services Act (HR-4227), which would bar companies from knowingly giving the FCC inaccurate broadband coverage data (see 2003110071). Trump said he will apply a section of S-893 requiring the president engage in international diplomacy to share information and pursue policy goals specified by Congress “in a manner that does not interfere with the President's exclusive constitutional authorities with respect to foreign relations.” Trump believes a section that “purports to condition the President's authority to implement parts of” the 5G security strategy “upon the approval of” the FCC “does not preclude me or future Presidents from exercising our constitutional authorities as the ‘sole organ’ of the Nation in foreign relations and as the head of the unitary Executive Branch.” S-893 and S-1822 “are critical to ensuring that all Americans can access broadband and that our networks are secure,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member Greg Walden, R-Ore., Communications Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and ranking member Bob Latta, R-Ohio. "The need for connectivity is even more critical now that millions of Americans are teleworking and learning from home in response to the coronavirus pandemic.” To "close the digital divide, we need accurate maps to show where there is broadband service and at what speeds," said Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Pai said the law “affirms the FCC’s approach to collecting more precise and granular broadband data through our new Digital Opportunity Data Collection program" and it's "vital for Congress to provide the FCC as soon as possible with the appropriations necessary to implement the Act." S-1822's prohibition on Universal Service Administrative Co. means "if Congress does not act soon, this well-intentioned legislation will have the unfortunate effect of delaying rather than expediting the development of better broadband maps," he said.