As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 22, 2026
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars | 2026 | 2026-2031 | 2026-2036 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Spending (Outlays) | * | * | * | ||||||||
Revenues | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit | * | * | * | ||||||||
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays) | * | 1 | not estimated | ||||||||
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? | * | Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? | Yes | ||||||||
Mandate Effects | |||||||||||
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037? | * | Contains intergovernmental mandate? | No | ||||||||
Contains private-sector mandate? | No | ||||||||||
* = between -$500,000 and $500,000. | |||||||||||
On This Page
H.R. 8320 would require the federal government to take several actions to promote U. S. telecommunications technology. Specifically, the bill would do the following:
- Require the Department of State, the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to promote the use of goods and services from American providers in telecommunications infrastructure projects. Those agencies would be required to report to the Congress on their efforts.
- Instruct the Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy in the Department of State to lead U.S. diplomatic efforts ahead of the 2026 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference and the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference. The Ambassador at Large also would be required to report to the Congress on efforts by China and Russia to use the ITU and other international fora to advance their interests.
- Direct the Department of State to submit to the Congress a strategy to promote U.S. dominance of sixth-generation (or 6G) technology.
- CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 8320 would affect direct spending by less than $500,000 and would increase spending subject to appropriation by $1 million over the 2026‑2031 period.
Direct Spending
The Department of State, DFC, and USTDA currently undertake the types of activities required by the bill to support telecommunications infrastructure projects. In CBO’s estimation, enactment of the bill could result in an increase in the number of projects that are insured by the DFC. Cash flows from that insurance are classified as direct spending. Fees for the insurance program are recorded as offsetting receipts, and thus reduce direct spending, whereas payments for claims increase direct spending. On the basis of information about the program, CBO estimates that increasing the amount of insurance would affect net direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2026–2036 period
Spending Subject to Appropriation
Using information from the Department of State, DFC, and USTDA, CBO estimates that many of the bill’s requirements and authorized activities would be implemented under existing programs. Those agencies have ongoing programs to support the development and adoption of secure telecommunication networks and to provide technical assistance and feasibility studies for telecommunications infrastructure.
On the basis of information about similar requirements, CBO estimates that providing any additional project support, engaging in the diplomatic efforts, and providing the reports to the Congress required by the bill would cost less than $500,000 annually and total $1 million over the 2026-2031 period. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Rafferty. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office