A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "FIREWALL Act" prohibits certain Federal funds from being given to people or companies that buy fiber-optic cable from countries of concern. This restriction applies to funds managed by the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It targets cables bought from companies owned by, or controlled by, a country of concern or its officials. The rules take effect 90 days after the Act is passed.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +7
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?
Reducing dependence on fiber-optic equipment from countries of concern mitigates potential security vulnerabilities and espionage risks.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
Prohibiting equipment from countries of concern reduces the risk of backdoors and data interception at the physical layer.
- Scored +4
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
Protects national infrastructure from foreign surveillance, enhancing systemic privacy.
The opposite· 3 of 6
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Business owners in the telecommunications sector may face higher costs by being forced to switch suppliers to maintain federal funding.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Small businesses purchasing fiber from countries of concern may lose access to critical FCC and NTIA federal funding.
- Scored -2
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Rural residents may see slower broadband expansion if local providers lose FCC/NTIA funding due to equipment sources.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Restricting funds from countries of concern: By prohibiting Federal funds from going to those who buy cable from countries of concern, the bill targets entities linked to "worrisome authoritarian linked locations" (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Loss of Federal funding: Individuals or entities that purchase fiber-optic cable from companies owned or controlled by a country of concern will be barred from receiving funds from the Federal Communications Commission or the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (Section 2(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Protects national infrastructure from foreign surveillance, enhancing systemic privacy. Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases the federal government's ability to dictate procurement standards for entities receiving federal funds.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Business owners in the telecommunications sector may face higher costs by being forced to switch suppliers to maintain federal funding. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural residents may see slower broadband expansion if local providers lose FCC/NTIA funding due to equipment sources.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Reducing dependence on fiber-optic equipment from countries of concern mitigates potential security vulnerabilities and espionage risks. Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill restricts trade and financial relationships with specific countries of concern.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — Prohibiting equipment from countries of concern reduces the risk of backdoors and data interception at the physical layer. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Potential increase in costs for fiber deployment may slightly slow the expansion of internet access.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Small businesses purchasing fiber from countries of concern may lose access to critical FCC and NTIA federal funding.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Rural broadband initiatives funded by the FCC/NTIA could be hindered if providers use low-cost cable from countries of concern.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Carlos GimenezRepublican · Florida
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida