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CCA Commends Senate Letter Supporting Additional Funding for Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act Reimbursement Program

Sep 09, 2022

Washington, DC – Yesterday, in a bipartisan letter to Leaders Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), thirty-four Senators expressed support for providing the necessary financial resources for the Federal Communications Commission’s Reimbursement Program under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. Competitive Carriers Association (“CCA”) thanks the letter signatories and strongly urges Congress to address the $3.08 billion funding shortfall to ensure ongoing connectivity for consumers.

CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry said, “The bipartisan Senate support – thirty-four Senators! – in favor of a well-resourced Reimbursement Program sends a clear message, and I applaud the letter signatories, especially Senators Hickenlooper, Fischer, Peters, and Lummis, for their leadership on this critical national security issue. The funding shortfall must be addressed as soon as possible to ensure eligible small and rural carriers are adequately reimbursed for costs associated with removing, destroying, and replacing affected equipment. These carriers serve some of the most rural and hard-to-reach places across the country and, without adequate reimbursements, their ability to provide ongoing service to customers is seriously jeopardized.”

“Congress recognized the national security threat in passing the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, and this funding is needed to address the threat. Time is of the essence – the timelines for completing network transitions have already begun. These carriers, and their consumers, need action now, and I strongly urge all Members of Congress to look to the overwhelming support in this letter and fully fund the Reimbursement Program. We cannot miss this opportunity to get it right.”

About CCA

CCA is the nation’s leading association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the United States. Members range from small, rural carriers serving fewer than 5,000 customers to regional and nationwide providers serving millions of customers, as well as vendors and suppliers that provide products and services throughout the wireless communications ecosystem. Visit www.ccamobile.org.

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