FCC chair applauds Congress for funding rip-and-replace in NDAAFCC chair applauds Congress for funding rip-and-replace in NDAA

Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel praised the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes full funding for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, a key initiative she has championed to remove Chinese-made Huawei and ZTE equipment and services from U.S. networks.  Funding for the Reimbursement Program will be paid for by the proceeds from an FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum.

"The 'rip-and-replace' program addresses the critical need to remove vulnerable and insecure equipment from U.S. networks," said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel. "Full funding will not only help protect our Nation's communications infrastructure but also ensure that rural communities who rely on these networks maintain vital connectivity. I want to thank the House and the Senate for allocating the full amount required to protect our Nation’s communications networks, and for recognizing that the FCC's spectrum auction authority can play an important national security role. I call on Congress to restore it in full."

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, also known as the rip-and-replace program, was created in 2019 to address the national security threat posed by the extensive integration of Chinese companies' networking technology by U.S. Internet Service Providers.  However, the initial $1.9 billion in funding fell far short of the nearly $5 billion actually needed to replace this equipment – a critical shortfall that FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel repeatedly raised as a serious concern in nine separate letters to Congress.  In her latest letter, she stressed the urgent need for increased funding to ensure the program’s successful completion.  The bill containing this critical funding now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

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Read the full press release here.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)