,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #cjad  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,october #bj1  
#bjba,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself1  
,mr4 ,wicker1 ,mr4 ,schumer1 ,mr4       
,thune1 and ,mr4 ,lujn7 introduced the  
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
  ,a ,,bill  ,to establish the ,next    
,generation ,telecommunications         
,council1 and for other purposes4  #a4  
,short title ,this ,act may be cited as 
the ,next ,generation                   
,telecommunications ,act4  #b4 #f;,g and
 advanced wireless technologies council 
7a7 ,establishment ,there is established
 a ,council1 to be known as the ,next   
,generation ,telecommunications ,council
 7referred to in this section as the    
,council71 to advise ,congress on #f;,g 
advancements and other advanced wireless
 communications technologies1 including 
the use of such technologies for smart  
cities or communities4  7b7 ,membership 

7#a7 ,composition  7,a7 ,in general     
,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the      
,council shall be composed of the       
following members3 7i7 ,the ,deputy     
,secretary of ,commerce4  7ii7 ,the     
,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for  
,communications and ,information4  7iii7
 ,the ,undersecretary of the ,national  
,institute of ,standards4  7iv7 ,the    
,chairperson of the ,federal            
,communications ,commission4  7v7 ,the  
,director of the ,national ,science     
,foundation4  7vi7 ,three members       
appointed by the majority leader of the 
,senate1 in consultation with the       
,chairman of the ,committee on          
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
 of the ,senate1 #a of whom shall be a  
member of the ,senate and #b of whom    
shall not be4  7vii7 ,two members       
appointed by the minority leader of the 
,senate1 in consultation with the       
,ranking ,member of the ,committee on   
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
 of the ,senate1 #a of whom shall be a  

member of the ,senate and #a of whom    
shall not be4  7viii7 ,three members    
appointed by the ,speaker of the ,house 
of ,representatives1 in consultation    
with the ,chairman of the ,committee on 
,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of  
,representatives1 #a of whom shall be a 
member of the ,house of ,representatives
 and #b of whom shall not be4  7ix7 ,two
 members appointed by the minority      
leader of the ,house of                 
,representatives1 in consultation with  
the ,ranking ,member of the ,committee  
on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house  
of ,representatives1 #a of whom shall be
 a member of the ,house of              
,representatives and #a of whom shall   
not be4  7,b7 ,requirements for certain 
members  7i7 ,in general ,the members of
 the ,council who are not members of    
,congress and who are appointed under   
clauses 7iv7 through 7vii7 of           
subparagraph 7,a7 shall be individuals  
who are nationally recognized for       
expertise1 knowledge1 or experience in--

 7,i7 telecommunications1 spectrum      
policy1 and standards organizations2    
7,,ii7 cybersecurity and innovation2 or 
7,,iii7 the implementation1 funding1 or 
oversight of national security and      
information sharing4  7ii7 ,limitation  
on appointments ,an official who        
appoints members of the ,council may not
 appoint an individual as a member of   
the ,council if such individual         
possesses any personal or financial     
interest in the discharge of any of the 
duties of the ,council4  7iii7          
,requirement ,all members of the        
,council described in clause 7i7 shall  
possess an appropriate security         
clearance in accordance with applicable 
provisions of law concerning the        
handling of classified information4     
7#b7 ,co-chairs  7,a7 ,in general ,the  
,council shall have #b co-chairs        
selected from among the members of the  
,council1 of which-- 7i7 one co-chair of
 the ,council shall be a member of the  
,democratic ,party2 and  7ii7 one       

co-chair shall be a member of the       
,republican ,party4  7,b7 ,requirement  
,the individuals who serve as the       
co-chairs of the ,council shall be      
jointly agreed upon by the ,president1  
the majority leader of the ,senate1 the 
minority leader of the ,senate1 the     
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives1 and the minority      
leader of the ,house of                 
,representatives4  7c7 ,appointment2    
initial meeting  7#a7 ,appointment      
,members of the ,council shall be       
appointed not later than #de days after 
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
7#b7 ,initial meeting ,the ,council     
shall hold its initial meeting on or    
before the date that is #fj days after  
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
7d7 ,meetings2 quorum2 vacancies  7#a7  
,in general ,after its initial meeting1 
the ,council shall meet upon the call of
 the co-chairs of the ,council4  7#b7   
,quorum ,seven members of the ,council  
shall constitute a quorum for purposes  

of conducting business1 except that #b  
members of the ,council shall constitute
 a quorum for purposes of receiving     
testimony4  7#c7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy
 in the ,council shall not affect its   
powers1 but shall be filled in the same 
manner in which the original appointment
 was made4  7#d7 ,quorum with vacancies 
,if vacancies in the ,council occur on  
any day after #de days after the date of
 the enactment of this ,act1 a quorum   
shall consist of a majority of the      
members of the ,council as of such day4 
7e7 ,actions of ,council  7#a7 ,in      
general ,the ,council shall act by      
resolution agreed to by a majority of   
the members of the ,council voting and  
present4  7#b7 ,panels ,the ,council may
 establish panels composed of less than 
the full membership of the ,council for 
purposes of carrying out the duties of  
the ,council under this section4 ,the   
actions of any such panel shall be      
subject to the review and control of the
 ,council4 ,any findings and            

determinations made by such a panel     
shall not be considered the findings and
 determinations of the ,council unless  
approved by the ,council4  7#c7         
,delegation ,any member1 agent1 or staff
 of the ,council may1 if authorized by  
the co-chairs of the ,council1 take any 
action which the ,council is authorized 
to take pursuant to this section4  7f7  
,duties ,the duties of the ,council are 
to review past actions of the processes 
and procedures used to advance wireless 
communication deployment1 including     
#e;,g technology1 and advise ,congress  
on #f;,g advancements1 existing gaps in 
the standardization and development of  
#f;,g1 and other advanced wireless      
communications technologies4  7g7       
,strategy  7#a7 ,in general ,the        
,council shall develop and submit to    
,congress recommendations for how the   
,federal ,government can support-- 7,a7 
the development and adoption of #f;,g   
and other advanced wireless             
communications technologies1 including  

ensuring digital inclusion and equity in
 access to such technologies for        
communities of color1 those underserved1
 and rural communities2  7,b7 assessment
 of roles and responsibilities within   
the ,federal ,government and how the    
,federal ,government can better         
coordinate functions to ensure timely   
decisions and needed actions2  7,c7     
research and development into1 and      
standards for1 #f;,g and other advanced 
wireless communications technologies1   
including collaboration with the private
 sector and ,united ,states allies2 and 
7,d7 the promotion of international     
cooperation1 including security         
cooperation1 with respect to #f;,g and  
other wireless communications           
technologies4  7#b7 ,considerations ,in 
developing the strategy under this      
subsection1 the ,council shall consider 
the following issues3 7,a7 ,access to   
adequate spectrum resources to support  
#f;,g and other advanced wireless       
communications technologies4  7,b7      

,assessment of the ,federal             
,government's function as regulator of  
electromagnetic spectrum1 including but 
not limited to1 testing capabilities1   
proper access to timely and relevant    
information1 the ,interdepartment ,radio
 ,advisory ,committee and interagency   
cooperation1 and communication with     
,federal and commercial license holders4
  7,c7 ,supply chain resiliency and     
security1 including vendor diversity1   
for #f;,g and other advanced wireless   
communications technologies4  7,d7      
,assessment of the workforce needs in   
order to build1 maintenance1 and utilize
 #f;,g networks1 including the necessary
 diversity within each of these areas4  
7,e7 ,ensure greater collaboration and  
information sharing to make certain     
advanced networks1 including those      
utilized by first responders1 remain    
secure and resilient in the face of     
cyber intrusions and natural disasters4 
7,f7 ,other issues identified as        
important to the successful development 

and deployment of #f;,g and other       
advanced wireless communications        
technologies1 such as artificial        
intelligence and machine learning1      
satellite and fixed wireless broadband1 
and open ,,ran technologies4  7h7       
,powers of ,council  7#a7 ,in general   
,the ,council or1 on the authorization  
of the ,council1 any subcommittee or    
member thereof1 may1 for the purpose of 
carrying out the provisions of this     
section hold such hearings and sit and  
act at such times and places1 take such 
testimony1 receive such evidence1 and   
administer such oaths4  7#b7            
,contracting ,the ,council may1 to such 
extent and in such amounts as are       
provided in advance in appropriation    
,acts1 enter into contracts to enable   
the ,council to discharge its duties    
under this section4  7#c7 ,information  
from ,federal agencies  7,a7 ,in general
 ,the ,council may secure directly from 
any executive department1 agency1       
bureau1 board1 council1 office1         

independent establishment1 or           
instrumentality of the ,government      
information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and
 statistics for the purposes of this    
section4  7,b7 ,requirement to share    
information ,each such department1      
agency1 bureau1 board1 commission1      
office1 establishment1 or               
instrumentality shall1 to the extent    
authorized by law1 furnish such         
information1 suggestions1 estimates1 and
 statistics directly to the ,council1   
upon request of the co-chairs of the    
,council4  7,c7 ,treatment of classified
 information ,the ,council shall handle 
and protect all classified information  
provided to it under this section in    
accordance with applicable statutes and 
regulations4  7#d7 ,assistance from     
,federal agencies  7,a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary of ,commerce1 acting through
 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce 
for ,communications and ,information1   
shall provide to the ,council1 on a     
reimbursable basis1 such administrative 

services1 funds1 staff1 facilities1 and 
other support services as are necessary 
for the performance of the ,council's   
duties under this section4  7,b7        
,administrative support ,the            
,chairperson of the ,federal            
,communications ,council may provide the
 ,council1 on a reimbursable basis1 with
 such administrative services1 staff1   
and other support services as the       
,council may request4  7,c7 ,additional 
support ,in addition to the assistance  
set forth in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71  
other departments and agencies of the   
,federal ,government may provide the    
,council such services1 funds1          
facilities1 staff1 and other support as 
such departments and agencies consider  
advisable and as may be authorized by   
law4  7,d7 ,cooperation among agencies  
,the ,council shall receive the full and
 timely cooperation of any official1    
department1 or agency of the ,federal   
,government1 including from the         
,department of ,state1 ,department of   

,defense1 and the ,office of the ,united
 ,states ,trade ,representative1 whose  
assistance is necessary1 as jointly     
determined by the co-chairs selected    
under subsection 7b77#b71 for the       
fulfillment of the duties of the        
,council1 including the provision of    
full and current briefings and analyses4
  7#e7 ,postal services ,the ,council   
may use the ,united ,states ,postal     
,service in the same manner and under   
the same conditions as the departments  
and agencies of the ,federal            
,government4  7#f7 ,gifts ,no member or 
staff of the ,council may receive a gift
 or benefit by reason of the service of 
such member or staff to the ,council4   
7i7 ,staff of ,council  7#a7 ,in general
  7,a7 ,appointment of staff director   
and other personnel ,the co-chairs of   
the ,council1 in accordance with rules  
agreed upon by the ,council1 shall      
appoint and fix the compensation of a   
staff director and such other personnel 
as may be necessary to enable the       

,council to carry out its duties1       
without regard to the provisions of     
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1        
governing appointments in the           
competitive service1 and without regard 
to the provisions of chapter #ea and    
subchapter ,,iii of chapter #ec of such 
title relating to classification and    
,general ,schedule pay rates1 except    
that no rate of pay fixed under this    
subsection may exceed the equivalent of 
that payable to a person occupying a    
position at level ,v of the ,executive  
,schedule under section #ecaf of such   
title #e4  7,b7 ,detailees ,any ,federal
 ,government employee may be detailed to
 the ,council without reimbursement from
 the ,council1 and such detailee shall  
retain the rights1 status1 and          
privileges of his or her regular        
employment without interruption4  7,c7  
,requirement ,all staff of the ,council 
shall possess a security clearance in   
accordance with applicable laws and     
regulations concerning the handling of  

classified information4  7#b7           
,consultant services  7,a7 ,in general  
,the ,council may procure the services  
of experts and consultants in accordance
 with section #caji of title #e1 ,united
 ,states ,code1 but at rates not to     
exceed the daily rate paid a person     
occupying a position at level ,,iv of   
the ,executive ,schedule under section  
#ecae of such title #e4  7,b7           
,requirement ,all experts and           
consultants employed by the ,council    
shall possess a security clearance in   
accordance with applicable laws and     
regulations concerning the handling of  
classified information4  7j7            
,compensation and travel expenses  7#a7 
,compensation  7,a7 ,in general ,except 
as provided in paragraph 7#b71 each     
member of the ,council may be           
compensated at not to exceed the daily  
equivalent of the annual rate of basic  
pay in effect for a position at level   
,,iv of the ,executive ,schedule under  
section #ecae of title #e1 ,united      

,states ,code1 for each day during which
 that member is engaged in the actual   
performance of the duties of the        
,council under this section4  7,b7      
,limitation ,members of the ,council who
 are officers or employees of the       
,federal ,government or ,members of     
,congress shall receive no additional   
pay by reason of their service on the   
,council4  7#b7 ,travel expenses ,while 
away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of       
services for the ,council1 members of   
the ,council may be allowed travel      
expenses1 including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence1 in the same manner as      
persons employed intermittently in the  
,federal ,government are allowed        
expenses under section #egjc of title   
#e1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#c7 ,access
 after termination of ,council          
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 after the termination of the       
,council under subsection 7k77#b71 only 
the members and designated staff of the 

congressional commerce committees1 the  
majority leader of the ,senate1 the     
minority leader of the ,senate1 the     
,speaker of the ,house of               
,representatives1 and the minority      
leader of the ,house of                 
,representatives1 and such other        
officials of the executive branch as the
 ,president may designate1 shall have   
access to information related to the    
national security of the ,united ,states
 that is received1 considered1 or used  
by the ,council4  7k7 ,final report2    
termination  7#a7 ,final report ,not    
later than #a year after the date on    
which the ,council is established1 the  
,council shall submit to the majority   
leader of the ,senate1 the minority     
leader of the ,senate1 the ,speaker of  
the ,house of ,representatives1 and the 
minority leader of the ,house of        
,representatives1 and the ,committee on 
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
 of the ,senate1 the ,committee on      
,appropriations of the ,senate1 the     

,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives1 and the 
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,house of ,representatives a final      
report in compliance with the duties    
described in subsection 7f7 and         
containing the strategy described in    
subsection 7g74  7#b7 ,termination  7,a7
 ,in general ,the ,council1 and all the 
authorities of this section1 shall      
terminate at the end of the #abj-;day   
period beginning on the date on which   
the final report under paragraph 7#a7 is
 submitted to the ,committee on         
,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation
 of the ,senate1 the ,committee on      
,appropriations of the ,senate1 the     
,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of  
the ,house of ,representatives1 and the 
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,house of ,representatives4  7,b7       
,conclusion of activities ,the ,council 
may use the #abj-;day period referred to
 in paragraph 7#a7 for the purposes of  
concluding its activities1 including    

providing testimony to ,congress        
concerning the final report referred to 
in that paragraph and disseminating the 
report4  7l7 ,assessments of final      
report ,not later than #fj days after   
receipt of the final report under       
subsection 7k77#a71 the ,secretary of   
,commerce shall submit to the ,committee
 on ,commerce1 ,science1 and            
,transportation of the ,senate1 the     
,committee on ,appropriations of the    
,senate1 the ,committee on ,energy and  
,commerce of the ,house of              
,representatives1 the ,committee on     
,appropriations of the ,house of        
,representatives1 the majority leader of
 the ,senate1 the minority leader of the
 ,senate1 the ,speaker of the ,house of 
,representatives1 and the minority      
leader of the ,house of                 
,representatives1 as the case may be1 an
 assessment of the final report4 ,each  
assessment shall include such comments  
on the findings and recommendations     
contained in the final report as the    

,director or ,secretary1 as the case may
 be1 considers appropriate4  7m7        
,inapplicability of certain             
administrative provisions  7#a7 ,federal
 ,advisory ,committee ,act ,the         
provisions of the ,federal ,advisory    
,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47    
shall not apply to the activities of the
 ,council under this section4  7#b7     
,freedom of ,information ,act ,the      
provisions of section #eeb of title #e1 
,united ,states ,code 7commonly referred
 to as the ,freedom of ,information     
,act71 shall not apply to the           
activities1 records1 and proceedings of 
the ,council under this section4  7n7   
,funding  7#a7 ,authorization of        
appropriations ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal  
year #bjbb to carry out this section4   
7#b7 ,availability in general ,subject  
to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary of    
,commerce shall make available to the   
,council such amounts as the ,council   
may require for purposes of the         

activities of the ,council under this   
section4  7#c7 ,duration of availability
 ,amounts made available to the ,council
 under paragraph 7#b7 shall remain      
available until expended4