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Carriers at Risk Without Funds to Replace Huawei, ZTE Gear, RWA Warns

Carriers should remove equipment from Huawei and ZTE from their networks -- after they have federal funds to do so, the Rural Wireless Association said. Finalizing designations of the two Chinese suppliers as covered companies first under the FCC’s November…

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supply chair order “would leave rural carriers in jeopardy of not being able to maintain their critical networks for their customers, who are currently relying on that broadband connectivity during this global pandemic,” RWA said in comments posted Friday in docket 18-89. The order bars equipment from two vendors from networks funded by the USF and establishes rules that could block other providers (see 1911220033). RWA said in deciding “when and how to finalize the designations of Huawei and ZTE, the Commission should solely rely on the Secure Networks Act” enacted in March (see 2003120061).