FCC Grants 'Several' Rip and Replace Deadline Extensions Amid Funding Shortfall: Rosenworcel
The FCC’s Wireline Bureau granted “several” participants in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program six-month extensions of their mandate to remove and replace Huawei and ZTE equipment from their networks, amid Congress’ failure to appropriate an additional $3.08…
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billion needed to fully satisfy participants’ approved costs, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in letters to Capitol Hill leaders released Thursday. The 2020 Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act mandates participants rip and replace suspect equipment within one year of receiving a first tranche of reimbursement money. Rosenworcel and others repeatedly prodded lawmakers this year to supplement Congress’ initial $1.9 billion funding for the program, warning the FCC would otherwise have to prorate reimbursements. Rosenworcel addressed the issue during a September Senate Appropriations Financial Services Subcommittee hearing (see 2309190075). Wireline granted some participants the extensions after “finding that the lack of full funding had slowed their removal, replacement, and disposal processes,” Rosenworcel wrote Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Senate Appropriations Financial Services Chairman Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.; and others. “It is important to note, however, that the grant of these extensions does not lessen the urgency for a fully funded Reimbursement Program. Indeed, the lack of full funding means that insecure equipment will remain in our Nation’s communications networks for a longer period.”