More funds needed for US telecoms to remove Chinese equipment, says FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Thursday nearly 40% of U.S. telecom companies getting federal support need additional government funding to remove equipment made by Chinese telecoms firms Huawei and ZTE (000063.SZ) from American wireless networks to address security risks.

The FCC said removing the equipment is estimated to cost $4.98 billion but Congress has only approved $1.9 billion for the "rip and replace" program.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel on Thursday called on Congress for urgent additional funding, warning some carriers in the reimbursement program have told the FCC...