Rural telecoms urge FCC to provide clarity on how Universal Service Fund can be used for rip-and-replace program

Two rural telecom associations are urging the Federal Communications Commission to provide more flexibility on how monies from the Universal Service Fund can be used amid an approaching deadline for telecoms to remove equipment and services from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from their networks.

The FCC is required to a make decision on how USF funds can be used by June 30, but a recently passed law is complicating how the agency will enforce the program.

The ...