Bill Overview
Title: NETWORKS Act
Description: This bill requires the President to block and prohibit significant transactions and interests in property of a foreign individual or entity that (1) produces fifth- or future-generation telecommunications technology; and (2) engages in economic or industrial espionage, or other related illicit activities, involving trade secrets or proprietary information owned by a U.S. individual or entity.
Sponsors: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Target Audience
Population: People working for or with foreign telecom companies engaging in espionage
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill targets foreign entities and individuals involved in producing advanced telecommunications technologies.
- It specifically focuses on those engaged in economic or industrial espionage or related illicit activities involving U.S. trade secrets or proprietary information.
- This legislation could impact employees, business partners, and supply chains of the targeted foreign telecom companies.
- It may also affect global telecommunications markets and international trade relations.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is approximately 50,000 Americans who are directly or indirectly linked to foreign telecommunications companies involved in espionage activities.
- The budget allocates substantial funds over a decade, implying significant impacts are anticipated, potentially reshaping industry patterns.
- This policy could mean job losses, shifts in market dynamics, and impacts on those working with companies that may face U.S. sanctions.
Simulated Interviews
Senior Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fully support the initiative as it provides security for my company's intellectual property.
- However, I am concerned about potential job losses if our foreign partners face sanctions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Telecommunications Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a prudent step for national security, but it could make my job more challenging as I cover fewer markets.
- There might be job cuts at our firm due to reduced consultancy needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Research Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will heavily impact my collaborations. Restricting foreign partnerships may slow down innovation.
- I understand the security concerns but hope for exemptions in academic settings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Business Owner (Dallas, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried this legislation might close some of my business channels overseas.
- However, it might open more opportunities domestically if the competition reduces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Procurement specialist for a major telecom firm (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's going to be very challenging to find alternatives if some of my suppliers are blacklisted.
- In the long term, better security might streamline operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these usually mean job insecurity for us as companies restructure to adjust to market changes.
- I'm hopeful that domestic focus might actually increase job stability, but it's unpredictable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
App Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this could reduce our client base significantly if some of them face restrictions.
- On the flip side, we might gain new clients looking to replace foreign technology.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Policy Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The NETWORKS Act strengthens the national security framework drastically.
- However, it will necessitate careful diplomatic navigation as it might strain some international relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
University Professor (Austin, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy makes it more challenging to collaborate internationally, which slows academic progress.
- While it aims for security, it might hinder open research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Telecom Company Executive (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're preparing for significant changes in our international division following this policy.
- While we support national priorities, there are concerns about potential loss in revenue streams and market disruptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $260000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $360000000)
Year 3: $270000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $370000000)
Year 5: $290000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $390000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $350000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $450000000)
Key Considerations
- Potential retaliation from foreign governments impacting trade.
- Balance between security concerns and open-market principles.
- Coordination with international partners to avoid counterproductive measures.