The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted final rules for a program that seeks to reimburse telecommunications carriers for replacing or removing equipment and services that pose risks to national security.
FCC said Tuesday communications services providers with 10 million or fewer customers can participate in the $1.89 billion Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
The move marks an increase in the customer eligibility cap for participation in the program, which previously applied to providers with 2 million or fewer customers.
The order will allow carriers to seek reimbursement funds for equipment and services procured, leased or obtained on or before June 30, 2020, and modify eligibility rules for communications services and equipment manufactured or provided by Huawei Technologies or ZTE.
The amended rules, which include clarifications to some requirements of the reimbursement program, will implement the prioritization scheme in the Consolidated Appropriations Act if the demand for reimbursement funding exceeds the congressional appropriations of $1.89 billion.