H.R. 4240, the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Abroad Act, directs the State Department to report on the use of Chinese and Russian telecommunications equipment—particularly from Huawei and ZTE—in U.S. allied countries and American embassies. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit initial reports within 180 days of enactment, then annually for two years, detailing which allied nations with collective defense agreements with the U.S. have untrusted telecom equipment in their 5G networks, which carriers use it, and replacement plans. A separate report must assess whether U.S. embassy staff devices are being serviced by Chinese companies and evaluate the security risks involved. The legislation also directs the State Department to promote trusted telecommunications infrastructure globally through diplomatic support and encourages the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to provide early-stage funding for projects that advance American national security interests by replacing untrusted equipment with secure alternatives.
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