By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 11-19-20

The FCC plans to vote next month on the framework for preventing the use of suspect tech in U.S. networks and ripping and replacing existing suspect tech, including a process for identifying which tech to expel.

The FCC has already formally designated Huawei and ZTE as suspect tech and excluded them from $8.3 billion in Universal Service Fund broadband subsidy money.

The item would adopt rules requiring Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (ETCs) to “remove and replace covered equipment from their networks,” and create a “Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program” to fund smaller carriers’ removal and replacement of suspect tech, at least once Congress has appropriated the $1.6 billion the FCC has estimated it will cost. » Read More