# Plain Language Summary: Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act

This bill asks the Secretary of Commerce to create a detailed report and strategy about America's technology supply chain, specifically focusing on whether the United States is relying too heavily on foreign tech companies that might pose security risks. Think of it like a health checkup for the nation's tech infrastructure—the government wants to understand what technology is critical to keeping America competitive, who's making it, and whether we're dependent on companies we can't trust.

The bill requires the Commerce Department to identify which technology products are most important for America's economic success, then figure out how much of that technology is being made by American companies versus foreign companies that the government considers trustworthy. It also asks them to assess whether American telecommunications companies are stuck using technology from companies the government has flagged as potential security threats. For example, if a foreign company's equipment could allow another country to spy on American communications, that would be considered "not trusted."

Based on this research, the Commerce Department must then develop a government-wide strategy to help American and trusted foreign tech companies become more competitive and reduce America's dependence on untrusted suppliers. This strategy would include recommendations on what changes to laws, government programs, or funding might be needed. The bill essentially tells the government to figure out where the vulnerabilities are in America's tech supply chain and come up with a plan to fix them—similar to how a country might work to reduce its dependence on foreign oil by developing domestic energy sources.

Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act

Long, Billy

Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to report on the information and communication technology supply chain and to develop a strategy to ensure the economic competitiveness of trusted information and communication technology vendors. The report must include (1) an identification of technology that is critical to U.S. economic competitiveness and the industrial capacity of U.S. vendors and other trusted vendors that produce such technology, (2) an assessment of whether and to what extent there is a dependence by providers of advanced telecommunications capability in the United States on technology that is not trusted, and (3) an identification of federal government actions and resources needed to support the economic competitiveness of trusted vendors and reduce dependence on companies that are not trusted.