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In its latest update to Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) showed more than half of respondents were having difficulties in affording to replace untrusted network equipment
The latest report from the FCC shows that US operators continue to struggle to implement the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (STCNA), with lack of funding the primary obstacle.
The STCNA was signed into law under President Donald Trump back in 2020, essentially ordering US telcos to replace of all networking equipment currently provided by vendors deemed a threat to national security, most notably Huawei and ZTE.
Naturally, this ‘rip and replace’ process is a timely and costly endeavour, with many US operators and associations warning that implementing the STCNA would be financially unfeasible for smaller operators. As a result, the FCC created a Reimbursement Fund of $1.9 billion, allowing smaller operators to apply for subsidies to facilitate the replacement process.
However, by summer last year, it had become apparent that this fund was far too small, with the FCC recording reimbursement applications from 181 companies, collectively totalling around $5 billion.
The FCC had hoped that these additional funds would be granted in the government’s December spending bill last year but were left disappointed.
Now, the regulator’s latest update shows the scale of the challenge facing the nation’s operators, with almost half of respondents saying that the lack of funding was inhibiting their ability to replace the proscribed equipment.
“Roughly half of respondents indicated in their status updates that a lack of funding is a challenge they face to complete the permanent removal, replacement, and disposal of the covered communications equipment and services in their networks in their entirety,” explained the report. “Approximately 2% of respondents indicated in their status updates that they will not start work on their removal, replacement, and disposal projects unless they receive additional funding.”
Beyond funding, other major challenges included supply chain issues, labour shortages, and weather-related delays.
The FCC’s next update on the progress of the national rip and replace effort will be announced on July 10, 2023.
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