Keneci Network (@keneci)

American Telcos To Spend $2B Replacing Banned Huawei, ZTE Equipment Federal Communications Commission back in June barred American telecom companies from using equipment made by chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE, when it designated both as national security threats. The FCC's Universal Service Fund, USF, provides annual subsides to help telecom companies provide broadband to rural areas that typically lack access. The June ruling meant that telecos could no longer use the USF to purchase equipment or services from the Chinese firms. FCC announced Friday, that it would cost $1.837 billion to replace Huawei and ZTE networking equipment from more than 50 rural telecom networks. "By identifying the presence of insecure equipment and services in our networks, we can now work to ensure that these networks --especially those of small and rural carriers -- rely on infrastructure from trusted vendors," FCC chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. "I once again strongly urge Congress to appropriate funding to reimburse carriers for replacing any equipment or services determined to be a national security threat so that we can protect our networks and the myriad parts of our economy and society that rely upon them." The Trump administration has been ramping up trade, economic and military pressure on china to curb the Asian nation's expansionist and underhand global trade practices. https://www.keneci.com/feedbox#h.99tkr1o3gq37