American telecom networks made headlines recently as intelligence officials confirmed ongoing Chinese state-backed hacking activities targeting the networks.
The House of Representatives is set to vote this week on an annual defense bill, which includes $3 billion to remove Chinese telecom equipment from American wireless networks.
The 1,800-page update to the National Defense Authorization Act was published on the evening of Dec. 7, increasing funding for networks’ reimbursement under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act from $1.9 billion to $4.98 billion, matching an estimate provided by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Originally passed in 2019, the act prohibits equipment and services that pose a national security risk from entering U.S. networks—chiefly targeting technology by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE. It included the reimbursement fund to “rip and replace” technology made by the prohibited companies.
On Nov. 26, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel urged Congress to provide the additional funding, writing that 126 carriers in the United States face a $3.08 billion shortfall to replace the insecure technology.
As of Nov. 20, the agency has received more than 35,000 reimbursement claims and 30 final certifications of applications stating all replacement work had been completed, Rosenworcel wrote.
The networks face a June 21, 2025, deadline to complete this work, but will be granted extensions based on delayed reimbursements. The agency has already granted 118 such extensions.
Rosenworcel wrote that 72 percent of status updates indicated that lack of funding is an obstacle to the “removal, replacement, and disposal” of the banned technology, and 50 percent of networks reported they cannot complete this work without additional funding.
The FCC chair said the funding shortfall impacts rural communities more significantly, and some have expressed concern they may have to shut down portions of their network and withdraw from the process without removing the banned technology.
“Any shut down of network facilities could remove the only provider available,” Rosenworcel wrote, adding that this would pose a continued national security concern.
Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan on Dec. 7 praised the announcement, saying, “Funding is desperately needed to fulfill the mandate to remove and replace covered equipment and services while maintaining connectivity for tens of millions of Americans.”
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