Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr urging him to ensure swift disbursement of funds for the “Rip and Replace” program. Rip and Replace funding is integral to our national security because it will remove dangerous Chinese components from our wireless communications systems and replace them with safe and secure equipment. The initial $1.9 billion funding authorized fell far short of the nearly $5 billion required to legally remove and replace impacted equipment. Without this funding, Wyoming communities could lose their access to telecommunications services.
“Quickly disbursing funds for the ‘Rip and Replace’ program ensures small wireless and broadband carriers throughout the country will not be saddled with millions of dollars in costs that could result in service blackouts and disruptions to Americans,” Lummis wrote. “This is especially important to states like Wyoming, where poor telecommunications connectivity continues to be one of the state’s biggest challenges. With the new funding, telecommunications companies will now have the ability to not only ensure the rural areas of Wyoming have reliable access but also that our communications systems are protected from foreign adversaries.”
In February 2023, Lummis penned an op-ed in the Hill expressing her serious concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to spy on the people of Wyoming through the equipment used to build out broadband and wireless networks in the state and the urgent need for Rip and Replace to be fully funded.
Last Congress, Lummis 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. Her amendment was included in the final version of the NDAA.
Read a full copy of the letter here.