The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously Tuesday to implement a $1.9 billion program to reimburse U.S. carriers for removing devices from telecommunications networks of Chinese companies classified as national security threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The companies affected were Huawei and ZTE, as well as Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats to communications networks – a statement that prevented U.S. firms from tapping an $8.3 billion state fund to buy equipment from those Chinese companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FCC issued rules in December requiring carriers with ZTE or Huawei devices to stop using the devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem is of great importance for rural transport companies, which face high costs and difficulties in finding workers who can dismantle and replace equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FCC’s final order expands the companies eligible for reimbursement from companies with 2 million or fewer customers to companies with up to 10 million or fewer customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also estimates that it would cost $1.837 billion to remove and replace Huawei and ZTE devices from the networks.<\/p>\n\n\n