Rural telecom providers to Congress: Clock ticking on efforts to help cleanse supply chain of Chinese gear

The nation’s smaller rural telecommunications providers are politely pressuring Congress to clarify the nature of equipment deemed a security threat and what kind of resources lawmakers will provide to replace it, in the face of President Trump’s executive order on supply-chain security for information and communications technology.

“We are appreciative of the efforts by policymakers to ensure a reasonable transition -- including financial and technical assistance -- for smaller operators should any national security concerns be identified in certain telecommunications...