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The
law also requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
establish a program to assist small providers with the costs of
removing prohibited equipment or services from their networks
and replacing it.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called on Congress to "to appropriate the
necessary funding to reimburse carriers for replacing any
network equipment or services found to be a national security
threat."
Huawei has opposed the measure and disputes that it poses a
national security threat.
The Rural Wireless Association praised the measure that
authorizes $1 billion but does not appropriate the funds. It
marks "the first-step in securing necessary funding to replace
rural carriers' Huawei and ZTE equipment so that critical
network infrastructure in rural areas continues to be
available," the association said.
The White House said the "reforms will help protect our nation’s
vital communications network and also ensures the United States
reaches its 5G potential."
Steven Barry, who heads the Competitive Carriers Association,
said at a congressional hearing this month that rural carriers
were "essentially attempting to rebuild the airplane in
mid-flight" by having to remove and replace network equipment.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul and Tom
Brown)
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