FIREWALL Act

Bill Number

H.R. 9541

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-07-06T13:38:29Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation aims to restrict the use of certain federal funding for telecommunications infrastructure by preventing support for purchases of fiber-optic cable from entities tied to countries of concern.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits federal funds administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from going to any individual or entity that buys fiber-optic cable from a company owned in whole or in part by a country of concern, its government officials, or any individual or business under significant control of such a country.
• The restriction applies to purchases made on or after 90 days following the law’s enactment.
• Defines “country of concern” by reference to the term “covered nation” in existing federal law (10 U.S.C. § 4872(f)).
• Clarifies that “fiber-optic cable” covers both solid-core and hollow-core types.

Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces a new funding restriction tied specifically to the source of fiber-optic cable purchases. It does not amend prior statutes but adds a condition on eligibility for FCC and NTIA programs.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Requires the FCC and NTIA to verify compliance with the sourcing restriction before distributing funds.
• Citizens and businesses: Entities seeking federal support for broadband or telecom projects may need to avoid certain suppliers, potentially affecting project costs or timelines.
• International relations: May limit business dealings with companies linked to designated countries of concern in the fiber-optic supply chain.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Recipients of FCC and NTIA grants or funding (such as telecom providers and infrastructure projects).
• Fiber-optic cable manufacturers and suppliers.
• The FCC and NTIA as administering agencies.
• Companies or governments of countries of concern involved in cable production.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure focuses on national security considerations by linking federal spending to supply-chain origins. It creates an administrative compliance requirement for funding recipients without directly regulating private purchases.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Federal Investment Restrictions on Equipment from Worrisome Authoritarian Linked Locations Act — issued 2026-06-30 — PDF (3 pages)