Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are maps for the placement and interconnection of semiconductors, passive components, and electronic connectors, and are in all ICT hardware. (p. 21)
- Large-scale PCB manufacturing is concentrated in Asia, particularly China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea; US production is primarily low-volume, high-mix specialty boards. (p. 22)
- Key risks to the US PCB supply chain include 1) facility inefficiencies, as most facilities are older and dependent on manual rather than automated labor, lacking the ability to scale up production and the business case to attract investment for upgrades; and 2) heavy dependence on US defense contracts supplying PCBs for specialized use, which keeps them from developing economies of scale. (pp. 23-4)

Fiber optic cable is composed of strands of glass that transmit large amounts of data using light beams, supporting international, national, and local communications. (p. 24)
- While the US maintains an industrial base, a large and growing share of fiber optic manufacturing takes place in Asia and increasingly China, which benefits from industrial subsidies. (p. 25)
- A key risk is China’s expected manufacturing capacity of 600 million kilometers per year by 2024, an amount that outstrips domestic demand by 300 million kilometers, leading to concerns over dumping that could put competitors out of business. (p. 26)

PCB assemblies (PCAs) are semiconductors and other components placed on a PCB, which runs electronic functions in ICT and a broad range of goods. (p. 27)
- Most PCA assembly is done by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies assemble 43% of all electronic goods globally, with China as the leading location for EMS production and most EMS companies headquartered in Taiwan. (p. 27)
- A key risk to the US supply chain is the use of counterfeit or used parts in PCAs or electronics, particularly those assembled in China given the high concentration of production there. (p. 28)

Networking equipment, including routers, switches, and servers, is critical for transmitting data, distributing data processing, communicating across devices, and connecting networks. (p. 28)
- The US has several leading companies that supply networking equipment; most production is concentrated in Asia through EMS companies headquartered in Taiwan. (p. 29)
- Asia, in particular, leads in the final assembly of networking equipment manufacturing, with China developing an ecosystem through decades of target investments creating advantages for its capital, labor, and supplier and demand base, allowing for cost efficiencies, and faster product upgrades and customization; there is no significant capacity outside of China for key components of the networking hardware supply chain (p. 29)
- As demand for networking equipment increases and Chinese companies gain market share, there will be increased competition and price pressure for US companies. (p. 30)