'RIP AND REPLACE'

The Policy and Law Behind 'Rip and Replace'

Emerging reports signal a growing concern among telecommunications providers grappling with compliance to the Federal Communications Commission's mandate to excise problematic equipment from certain Chinese companies.

Amid this regulatory melange, providers are finding themselves at a crossroads, with the daunting task of navigating stringent regulations, facing the financial brunt of equipment replacement, and contending with the ambiguity surrounding funding mechanisms for such extensive undertakings. 

At the heart of this unfolding scenario is the "rip and replace" program, a cornerstone initiative under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, designed to fortify the nation's telecommunications infrastructure against potential espionage and cyber threats. 

This comprehensive effort not only mandates the purging of equipment from companies like Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation, deemed security risks, but also underscores a pivotal shift towards securing the integrity and reliability of U.S. telecommunications networks. 

As the FCC enforces this order, the ripple effects are palpable, spanning legal and financial implications for compliant companies and operational challenges that demand innovative solutions, all while setting a precedent for how national security considerations are increasingly shaping the telecommunications landscape.

What is 'Rip and Replace'?

The rip and replace initiative, officially part of the initiatives under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, is a Federal Communications Commission effort aimed at enhancing national security within the country's telecommunications infrastructure.

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Fiber and Wireless Solutions for 'Always On' Deployment Strategies on Tuesday, March 26, 2024

TUESDAY at 2 p.m. ET – REGISTER HERE to join live!

The application of quantum physics to traditional internet connections holds great promise for enhancing speed, efficiency, and security in future networks. As quantum processors venture out of physics labs and into data centers, hear how they could work in tandem with advancing broadband infrastructure to transmit vast datasets across future internet backbones. Tune in for a dynamic discussion on how quantum mechanics can transform computing, the internet and global communications.
 

The digital infrastructure is evolving at exponential rates and the demand for smarter systems and a more connected world is imperative to the progression of our communities. Deploying a broadband strategy isn’t straight forward and requires flexibility, creativity, and the ability to pivot quickly. Join the Wesco experts as they dive into the wireless and fiber solutions driving innovation, enabling 24/7 connectivity and IoT, and fortifying communities for tomorrow.

Panelists

• Chris Bailey, Director, Strategic Accounts
• Carla Shaffer, Vice President, Wireless
• Drew Clark (moderator), Editor and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast

Most Democratic Senators Want Congress to Make ACP Renewal 'Must Pass' Legislation

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2024 – Thirty three Democratic and Independent Senators on Friday co-signed a letter urging Senate and House leaders to use “must-pass” budget legislation to include an extension of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

The letter urges Congressional leaders to support bipartisan legislation to save the ACP from expiration when funds are expected to be exhausted next month. The letter argued that the program is necessary to close the connectivity gap between Americans. 

Notable signatories include Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California.

Todd Eachus: Government Red Tape Threatens Universal Broadband

Pennsylvania’s mountainous terrain and rural areas with few homes have made it difficult and expensive for broadband expansion.

What's In the FY 2025 Budget for Broadband and Technology

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2024 – The White House unveiled its proposed fiscal year 2025 budget last week, earmarking $6 billion for enhancing internet affordability for consumers and $112 million for expanding rural broadband infrastructure.

The proposed budget underscores that certain broadband and technology initiatives are integral to President Joe Biden's economic vision of reducing costs, stimulating job growth, boosting manufacturing, and ensuring the protection of American consumers.

Introducing the California Broadband Summit at the CalMatters Ideas Festival

The event in Sacramento, California, on Wednesday, June 5 is part of the CalMatters Ideas Festival on June 5-6, 2024.

Reserve Your Spot Now!

Panel 1: The California Broadband Moment 

As billions flood into broadband development nationwide, California is riding high on this wave, netting $1.86B from the government’s flagship Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. For the nation’s leading tech hub, how has this pivotal moment unfolded? How does this dovetail with the state’s ongoing initiatives aimed to drive innovation in the technology and telecom sectors?

Panel 2: California’s Pathbreaking Middle Mile Program

In 2021, California unanimously passed SB 156, earmarking a $6 billion broadband investment to bridge the statewide digital divide. More than half of the funds are funneled towards building open-access, state-owned middle mile networks with high capacity fiber. As this expansive investment fans out across the state, how is California positioned to capitalize on it? What opportunities and potential pitfalls might the state encounter along the way?

Panel 3: California’s Cost to Build

With one of the country's most extensive highway networks, California must also wrangle with the prickly issue of broadband right-of-way, which often drive up the cost of deployment. This legal clearance for deploying and maintaining broadband infrastructure along public routes often muddies the waters around broadband expansion plans. Where does the state stand on this issue? Are there still any bottlenecks that need ironing out for seamless broadband flow across the state?

Panel 4: Net Neutrality and Privacy

While federal net neutrality rules hang in limbo, California has long upheld its own law regarding the equal treatment of data, as well as its state-leading law on internet privacy  With its sights on universal broadband access statewide, how does net neutrality factor into California’s game plan? What role has California’s leadership role on net neutrality and privacy had on broadband for California?

Sponsors

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has been on a mission over the last decade to forge partnerships and foster public policy to close the Digital Divide. This work has been strategically-focused, results-oriented, and people-centered. CETF is a leading proponent of the Digital Equity Bill of Rights

House Commerce Committee Advances Four Communications Bills

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2024 – The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced four pieces of communications legislation on Wednesday.

Three of the bills are network security measures targeting companies from China and other countries deemed national security threats, and one would direct the Federal Communications Commission to stand up a task force to study 6G technology. The bills were passed unanimously with bipartisan support.

“Taken together, these bills will help protect American networks from security threats, while also allowing our country to remain a global leader in communications technology,” said Ranking Member Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey.

With Affordable Connectivity Funds Running Out, ISPs May Choose Partial Reimbursement

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2024 – As the looming deadline of the Affordable Connectivity Program draws nearer, providers now face a decision of whether to continue offering ACP-supported services through May by taking partial reimbursement funding, or dropping consumers.

In a public notice released Monday, the Federal Communications Commission alerted internet service providers that without additional funding from Congress, the Affordable Connectivity Program won't reimburse them fully for the service and device benefits applied to ACP-recipient internet bills beginning in May.

Housing Group Blasts Proposal to Ban Broadband 'Bulk Billing'

An advocacy group on behalf of landlords and lenders argued the FCC should not ban bulking billing practices.

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Broadband Breakfast on March 27, 2024 – Generative AI and Congressional Action

WEDNESDAY, 12 NOON ET – REGISTER HERE to join live!

As generative AI capabilities quickly get woven into the fabric of daily life and business practices, the debate around regulating this disruptive technology has been catapulted into the public eye. Despite a flurry of bill proposals hitting the floor, including President Biden's Executive Order laying out an AI bill of rights, national-level guardrails have ground to a halt without solid congressional buy-in. With lawmakers returning to the Hill in 2024 amidst an election cycle in full swing, how does AI regulation factor into the national storyline? What legislative measures might be in the pipeline for Congress?

Broadband Providers Oppose Another Petition to Change FCC Pole Rules

A coalition of utility companies asked the FCC to discard part of its new pole attachment rules.

House Passes Bill to Fund Broadband in Economically Distressed Areas

The bill is aimed at making Economic Development Administration grants more accessible for broadband projects.

At Free State Event, Most Industry and Academics Dump on FCC Regulation

The officials criticized the agency’s proposal to create more stringent regulations on broadband access.

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Broadband Breakfast on April 3, 2024 – Generative AI and Congressional Action

WEDNESDAY, 12 NOON ET – REGISTER HERE to join live!

Reliable high-speed internet is crucial for unlocking the full potential of precision agriculture, which utilizes advanced technologies such as GPS, sensors, and data analytics to optimize farming practices. With significant broadband funding and opportunities across the nation, efforts to enhance broadband connectivity on agricultural land, spearheaded by the Federal Communications Commission's Precision Agriculture task force, are gaining momentum. How is the adoption of precision agriculture going? What promise does it hold for the future of farming and technology? How is it factored into ongoing broadband funding and deployment in rural areas?

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