Rip and Replace Requests Exceed Money for FCC

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel notified Congress Friday that providers requested $5.6 billion from an FCC program to cover the cost of ripping and replacing Huawei and ZTE gear from their networks, nearly three times the $1.9 billion allocated. The FCC received 181 applications from carriers, she said. “While we have more work to do to review these applications, I look forward to working with Congress to ensure that there is enough funding available for this program to advance Congress’s security goals and ensure that the U.S. will continue to lead the way on 5G security.” The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Wireline Bureau, meanwhile, opened an online portal Friday for providers to report the extent to which their networks contain or use gear or services on the FCC’s “covered” list. Reports are due May 5. “If a provider cannot certify that it has no covered communications equipment or services it must then provide information regarding the locations, types, suppliers, historic and replacement cost, functionality, replacement plans, and a detailed justification of why such equipment was obtained," the FCC said.