New Bill Puts Commerce Dept. in Charge of Who Sets Global 5G Rules, Banning 'Untrusted' Tech Companies

The Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2025 is all about making sure the U.S. has a dominant voice in setting the technical rules for the next generation of wireless technology—think 5G, 6G, and whatever comes next. Basically, this bill aims to put the U.S. firmly in the driver’s seat for global tech standards, but it does so by giving the government some serious gatekeeping power.

The Gatekeeper’s New Role

This bill tasks the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information with actively encouraging U.S. companies and stakeholders to participate in international standards groups like the 3GPP and the IEEE, which design the technical blueprints for how your phone and network actually work. This is a big deal because whoever sets the standards often dictates the future of the technology. However, there’s a major caveat: the Assistant Secretary must exclude any company or entity they determine poses a threat to U.S. national security. They also get to offer technical assistance to the companies that are deemed “trusted” to make sure they can compete effectively in these complex international forums.

Who Gets to Play, and Who Gets Benched?

For the average person, this sounds like a smart move to protect national interests, but the power dynamic here is worth watching. The bill defines an “untrusted” company using existing criteria—specifically, findings from national security bodies or if the company provides equipment already banned under Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (which covers certain telecommunications gear). This means the decision to exclude a company isn't arbitrary, but it still grants significant authority to one government official to decide which entities can help shape global tech standards and which cannot.

Real-World Stakes: The Cost of Exclusion

If you work in tech, especially in hardware or networking, these standards determine what products you can design and sell. By excluding certain entities, the U.S. is trying to ensure that foundational technologies are built on secure protocols. On the flip side, this could create friction. Standards are supposed to be global and interoperable. If the U.S. excludes a major player—even for legitimate security reasons—it could potentially lead to two different versions of a standard, forcing companies to choose sides or navigate fragmented global markets. For a U.S. small business that relies on a truly global, unified standard, this fragmentation could add complexity and cost.

Government as Tech Coach

One interesting provision is the mandate for the Assistant Secretary to provide technical assistance to the “trusted” U.S. participants. Think of it like the government providing expert coaching and resources to ensure U.S. tech teams can win the standards-setting game. This is a direct intervention aimed at boosting U.S. influence in these typically industry-led processes. Within 60 days of the bill becoming law, the Assistant Secretary has to brief key Congressional committees on exactly how they plan to pull all this off, ensuring there’s rapid oversight of this new strategy.