First funding opportunity focuses on testing
The Biden administration is officially kicking off the first funding opportunity for the $1.5 billion Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which is part of the CHIPS and Science Act passed last year and focuses on federal government’s efforts to promote a secure supply chain and open approaches to network infrastructure.
This first funding round consists of up to $140.5 million. Based on feedback from industry stakeholders that was gathered through public comment and a listening session, it focuses on expanding and improving testing and R&D that will “demonstrate the viability of new approaches to wireless like open radio access networks (Open RAN) and remove barriers to adoption.”
Specifically, the funding will go to support expansion of “industry-accepted testing and evaluation” focusing on “interoperability, performance, and/or security of open and interoperable, standards-based 5G radio access networks” and developing or improving the testing of those network and/or their component parts.
“This initial round of funding will help to ensure that the future of 5G and next-gen wireless technology is built by the U.S. and its global allies and partners –not vendors from nations that threaten our national security,” said the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is administering the fund, in a release.
Applications for funding are due by June 2, and NTIA expects to make awards by August.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that the supply chain innovation fund “is a critical step toward securing 5G wireless networks while driving innovation at home and abroad.” Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) called it “a critical downpayment on our efforts to reshape the global wireless infrastructure supply chain towards secure and trusted vendors.”
Later funding opportunities “will build upon the foundational work of this first NOFO, creating an ecosystem for wireless innovation built by the U.S. and its global allies,” NTIA said. Â
More details about the notice of funding opportunity are available here.
