Description:
H.R. 1354 would require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to report to the Congress on the information and communication technology (ICT) supply chain. As part of that report, the NTIA would identify ICT critical to the economic competitiveness of the United States, assess the economic competitiveness of ICT vendors in the United States, and determine what federal actions could ensure such vendors remain competitive. In addition, based on the findings in the report, H.R. 1354 would require the NTIA to develop and report to the Congress on a federal strategy for bolstering the economic competitiveness of ICT vendors in the United States. Using information from the NTIA and based on the cost of similar studies, CBO expects that the NTIA would need 12 employees at an average annual cost of $160,000 to meet the bill’s requirements. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1354 would cost $3 million over the 2024-2025 period; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. CBO expects that the costs for agencies such as the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to consult with the NTIA would be insignificant.