April 16, 2026
Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself and Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To require additional duties of the Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy with respect to United States diplomatic efforts ahead of certain international conferences, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the USA 6G Global Leadership Act
.
Sec. 2. Sense of congress
It is the Sense of Congress that—
(1)
the United States has a national security, economic, and foreign policy interest in winning the race for 6G global leadership;
(2)
the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) use of malign nonmarket practices to accelerate its development of 5G and 6G technology is coercive and constrains countries’ access to reliable and secure telecommunications services;
(3)
the United States government should leverage economic and diplomatic tools to ensure United States companies are positioned to compete as leading providers of 6G technology and are not unfairly disadvantaged by PRC based state owned enterprises;
(4)
it is in the United States interest to engage at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and private standard setting bodies to ensure the United States is positioned to lead on the key telecommunications, information, and other emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence; and
(5)
it is critical to cooperate with like-minded allies and partners, including through multilateral coordination, to promote secure telecommunications networks by achieving market leadership for trusted vendors.
Sec. 3. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy responsibilities at Plenipotentiary Conference and World Radiocommunication Conference
(a) Coordinator
The Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy (authorized under subsection (i) of section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956; 22 U.S.C. 2651a(i)) shall coordinate and lead United States diplomatic efforts ahead of the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2026 and the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027.
(b) Duties
In carrying out the coordination required by subsection (a), the Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy shall be responsible for—
(1)
coordinating across the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to promote candidates for election to the ITU’s leadership bodies that support the United States economic and security objectives for increased telecommunications security, digital freedom, and information technology governance and standards;
(2)
consulting with United States private sector entities to ensure that views and perspectives are understood, incorporated, and represented as the Department of State engages in the ITU elections process;
(3)
consulting with Congress by providing quarterly briefings on developments leading up to the ITU elections and the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027;
(4)
coordinating across the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, and other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to advance United States interests ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027;
(5)
conducting diplomatic outreach to promote United States interests in the field of international telecommunications; and
(6)
other such duties that the Secretary of State may prescribe.
(c) Report
(1) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on efforts by the People’s Republic of China and by the Russian Federation to—
(A)
leverage the ITU or other international forums to promote policies or standards that constrain digital freedom;
(B)
expand the mandate of the ITU to cover internet governance policy, including by proposing internet governance standards at the ITU;
(C)
leverage their private sector’s influence over developing countries to compel such countries to deliver favorable decisions on standards proposals, election victories, candidate selection, and other decisions at the ITU; and
(D)
use the influence of Chinese or Russian nationals serving in the ITU to advantage companies, standards decisions, and ITU leadership candidates that advance the interests of the People’s Republic of China or the Russian Federation, respectively.
(2) Form
The report required by this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(d) Sunset
The authorities and requirements under this section shall expire upon the conclusion of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027.
Sec. 4. Project assistance
(a) In general
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Chief Executive Officer of the International Development Finance Corporation and the Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency, should carry out projects that assert United States global leadership in telecommunications infrastructure.
(b) Priority projects
For assistance pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall prioritize projects that—
(1)
promote connectivity and use of trusted vendors in developing countries; and
(2)
use technology produced by United States companies or entities if not specifically important that they are incorporated or by companies organized under the laws of United States allies if United States technology goods and services are not available.
(c) Forms of support
The projects carried under this section may receive support through the following methods:
(1)
Early-stage project development including feasibility studies.
(2)
Development loans.
(3)
Direct investments in companies or projects that advance Unites States foreign policy interests.
(4)
Other types of support as appropriate.
(d) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report that describes the projects undertaken pursuant to subsection (b).
Sec. 5. 6G technology dominance strategy
(a) Strategy for 6G technology dominance
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that details the United States strategy to promote and dominate 6G technology globally.
(b) Elements
The report required by subsection (a) shall also include a description and analysis of the activities of the Department of State regarding—
(1)
actions to deepen cooperation with like-minded countries to promote United States and allied market leadership in 6G networks and technologies;
(2)
efforts to coordinate and cooperate with relevant Federal departments and agencies as well as United States-based private sector entities to plan, strategize, and conduct diplomatic engagements at telecommunication standard-setting bodies and organizations; and
(3)
the effects on and impact of competition in artificial intelligence and other critical or emerging technologies, including the role of low-earth orbit satellites, in ensuring that the United States remains the partner of choice in 6G infrastructure.
(c) Form
The report required by this section shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.