Commerce Department Kicks Off $1.5B Funding Opportunity for Open Wireless Networks

The Department of Commerce has issued a notice of funding opportunity for the first round of the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, which provides $1.5 billion to support the development of open-architecture approaches to communications networks. Financed by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the grant program is aimed at securing the wireless network supply chain for the United States and its allies.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the fund could also boost telecommunications companies’ global competitiveness and drive the availability of advanced technologies.

Prior to the fund’s launch, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration made several efforts to collect input from stakeholders. In line with that feedback, the first funding round’s goal is to expand and develop testing to show that open radio access networks and other new wireless models can realistically be implemented.

Applications are due on June 2 with the first awards scheduled for August, NTIA said Wednesday.

A request for comment issued by the agency in 2022 indicated that the fund’s establishment is motivated by a desire to lessen reliance on Chinese 5G providers such as Huawei.