UPDATE Recipients of Rip and Replace reimbursement funds must file a status update with the FCC today, October 13. The agency recently reminded telecoms their obligation began on the date the Wireline Competition Bureau approved their applications, which in this case was July 15. It continues every 90 days, notes Telecommunications Law Professionals.
Because of a $3.08 billion shortfall between the $1.9 billion Congress initially allocated and the $4.7 billion the FCC says recipients need, lawmakers directed the agency to give first priority to applicants that have two million or fewer customers. A total of 85 entities are considered “first priority” in the program. Because of the shortfall, the FCC said the first Rip & Replace reimbursements would be about 39.5 percent of demand, Inside Towers reported. Eighteen wireless carriers and stakeholders urged lawmakers to fully fund the program. Congress has yet to do so.
The status update must tell the Commission about the work the recipient has conducted to remove, replace, and dispose of covered communications equipment or services. Recipients must tell the Commission if they’ve complied with, or are in the process of complying with, the commitments made in the application. An example would be whether they’ve removed the Huawei and ZTE gear that’s been deemed a national security threat from their networks, or are still in the process of doing that.
Recipients must state whether they’ve complied with, or are in the process of complying with, the timeline submitted in their application. Recipients should also detail the availability of replacement equipment so the FCC can evaluate whether a six-month extension is appropriate.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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