Senate Passes Defense Bill with $3 Billion in Rip and Replace Funding

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2024 – The Senate passed a major defense bill Wednesday that included funding for the Federal Communications Commission’s Rip and Replace program. President Joe Biden is now expected to sign the bill into law.

The program, which got off the ground in 2021 to reimburse smaller telecom providers for swapping Chinese gear out of their networks, has been facing a funding shortfall of about $3 billion. That’s led to providers being unable to meet the one-year completion deadline and asking the agency for extensions to avoid penalties, all while their equipment continues to age. 

“With the current funding levels, Reimbursement Program participants have been left in an untenable situation for over three years facing partial or complete shutdown of service given that they have had insufficient funds to remove and replace their unsecure equipment,” the Rural Wireless Association, which represents participating carriers, said in a statement.