FIREWALL Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced
Summary
Blocks federal funding for fiber‑optic cable bought from companies tied to certain foreign governments. This bill would bar the use of Federal Communications Commission or National Telecommunications and Information Administration funds to buy fiber‑optic cable from firms owned or controlled by a "country of concern," with the ban applying to purchases made 90 days after enactment and using the definition in 10 U.S.C. 4872(f).
Show full summary
- FCC and NTIA program recipients: Would be prohibited from using federal program funds to purchase fiber‑optic cable from companies owned or controlled in whole or in part by a country of concern.
- Buyers and suppliers in the fiber market: Entities that purchase from covered suppliers would lose access to FCC or NTIA funding for those purchases, and suppliers tied to covered nations would be shut out of federally funded sales.
- Technical scope: The rule covers "fiber‑optic cable" including solid‑core and hollow‑core fiber.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New limits on federal broadband purchases
This bill would bar Federal funds from going to anyone who buys fiber‑optic cable from a company owned or controlled by a "country of concern" as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4872(f). The rule would apply to purchases of solid‑core and hollow‑core fiber made on or after the date 90 days after enactment. If enacted, the FCC and NTIA could not provide money to recipients who purchase covered cable from those suppliers. Recipients could face fewer supplier choices and possibly higher project costs; the rule aims to reduce security risks tied to certain foreign‑controlled suppliers.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov