FCC needs an additional $3 billion for Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, Chairwoman Rosenworcel Says

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC needs an additional $3 billion to fund the removal and replacement of telecommunications equipment from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE over national security concerns, which would bring the total cost of the program to $4.98 billion. In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rosenworcel said without extra funds, the FCC would use the "prioritization scheme" specified by Congress for the program. "Absent an additional appropriation, the Commission will apply the prioritization scheme Congress specified in the [Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021]," said Rosenworcel. "Because demand within the first prioritization group exceeds available funds for the Reimbursement Program, the Commission will prorate reimbursement funds equally to each eligible applicant in the first prioritization group. The pro-rata factor for those allocations will be approximately 39.5% of demand."