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  "description": "Measures from Sens. Hickenlooper and Ernst aim to prevent equipment shortages and bolster domestic production\n",
  "path": "/senate-passes-pair-of-bills-to-safeguard-broadband-supply-chains/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-11-06T22:55:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "_on Tuesday_",
    "__Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act__",
    "__Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act__",
    "_in 2013_",
    "_in April_"
  ],
  "textContent": "WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2025 – The Senate _on Tuesday_ unanimously approved two bills designed to safeguard major infrastructure initiatives, including federal broadband projects, from future component shortages.\n\nAmong them was the __Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act__ __ which directs the Federal Communications Commission to regularly assess how the availability of network equipment affects broadband deployment timelines and universal service programs.\n\nLed by Sens. **John Hickenlooper** , D-Colo., **Shelley Moore Capito** , R-W.Va.,**Gary Peters** , D-Mich., and **Jerry Moran** , R-Kan., the measure amends the Communications Act to add a new reporting requirement within the FCC’s Communications Marketplace Report, ensuring Congress will be alerted to bottlenecks that could delay broadband buildouts.\n\nThe “NET Act will ensure broadband projects, like those from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, remain on track by identifying supply chain gaps early,” the senators’ press release states.\n\nIn a related effort, the Senate passed the __Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act__, co-led by Sens. **Joni Ernst** , R-Iowa, and **Lisa Rochester** , D-Del., to strengthen domestic production across critical sectors, including telecommunications.\n\nThe bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a one-year study on whether products essential to critical infrastructure can be manufactured in the United States rather than imported.\n\nErnst’s bill would cover all 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by the federal government _in 2013_ – including telecommunications, energy, financial services, healthcare, and transportation systems.\n\nThe Commerce Department would be tasked with identifying infrastructure products that are in high demand, assessing the costs and benefits of making them domestically, and pinpointing federal rules that make domestic production more difficult.\n\nThe department would deliver its findings to Congress within 18 months.\n\nA House version of Ernst’s bill passed _in April_; no companion measure exists yet for Hickenlooper’s NET Act.\n\nTogether, the two bills reflect bipartisan concern that fragile supply chains and national security risks could jeopardize broadband expansion and other infrastructure priorities.",
  "title": "Senate Passes Pair of Bills to Safeguard Broadband Supply Chains",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-11T05:43:30.944Z"
}