Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Defend our Networks Act, to fully fund the Reimbursement Program using unspent and unallocated COVD-19 relief emergency funds. The Reimbursement Program, a $1.9 billion program administered by the FCC, is purposed with reimbursing small carriers for their removal, replacement, and disposal of Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services. Specifically, the legislation would reallocate roughly 3% of these COVID-19 funds for the Reimbursement Program. Both Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioner Carr have issued statements in support of this legislation.
