House to Vote on Broadband Mapping, Supply Chain

The House is scheduled to vote on its bipartisan compromises aimed at improving broadband mapping and securing the US telecommunications supply chain (and helping rural wireless carriers rip and replace any existing gear from providers like Huawei that the administration has labeled a security risk). Measures on deck under suspension of the rules include the Broadband DATA Act, H.R. 4229; the MAPS Act, H.R. 4227; and the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, H.R. 4998. Senate and House staffers had previously agreed to bundle the mapping and security measures with their bicameral robocall deal, which is awaiting passage in the Senate. Senate Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) wants the Senate to advance a package addressing the three issues by year’s end, per that deal. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) suggested that a “handful” of GOP holdouts exist to the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act robocall legislation and that he would, if needed, formally seek unanimous-consent passage (a process that would require a formal objection) to “flush out who supports ending these robocalls and who doesn't." The House also has scheduled a vote Dec 19 on approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (H.R. 5430), which contains some language on privacy and cybersecurity.