WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., has introduced legislation to fully fund Rip and Replace and remove Chinese components from U.S. wireless communications systems, according to a news release from her office.
The Supporting National Security with Spectrum Act, if passed, would fully fund Rip and Replace, and ensure small wireless and broadband carriers throughout Wyoming will not be saddled with millions of dollars in costs that could result in service blackouts and companies closing down, the release said.
“Chinese-manufactured equipment used to build out our broadband networks pose a serious threat to our national security and the privacy of the people of Wyoming. This legislation provides essential and urgent funding for (Rip and Replace) to remove Chinese equipment and replace it with trusted products that are safe and secure. Importantly, this funding is fully paid for, so it will not contribute to our nation’s debt,” Lummis said in the release.
The federal government has deemed that equipment from Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE in U.S. wireless networks poses a national security risk.
Lummis has been a strong proponent of funding Rip and Replace due to the risk to Wyoming communities of service being cut entirely due to the high costs to fund these projects.
This week, she introduced an amendment to the appropriations bill to fully fund Rip and Replace and ensure Wyoming communities continue having access to reliable broadband and wireless services.
On Thursday, she also spoke at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about the threats Chinese-manufactured equipment in our broadband and wireless networks pose to communities and the urgent need for Congress to fund Rip and Replace.
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