Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1164



DA 21-1164
Released:  September 16, 2021

FCC ANNOUNCES A WEBINAR FOR THE SECURE AND TRUSTED COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM 
September 27 Event Will Educate Participants About the Reimbursement Program
WC Docket No. 18-89

Washington, D.C. – On Monday, September 27, 2021 the Federal Communications Commission will host a public webinar on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (Reimbursement Program) starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.  The webinar will provide an overview of the Reimbursement Program, provider eligibility information, and application procedures for participating parties.  Specifically, the FCC will walk through the online portal for filing Application Requests for Funding Allocation, the User Guide for parties participating in the Reimbursement Program, and the outreach tool kit materials developed to increase awareness about the Reimbursement Program.  The webinar can be viewed live at fcc.gov/live and will be archived on the Commission’s supply chain website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain.
  
As directed by the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act), as amended, the Commission established the $1.9 billion Reimbursement Program to reimburse providers of advanced communications services with ten million or fewer customers for costs incurred in the removal, replacement, and disposal of covered communications equipment or services from their networks that pose a national security risk. Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-124, § 4(a)-(c), 134 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 U.S.C. §§ 1601–1609) (Secure Networks Act).  The Commission implemented the Secure Networks Act in the 2020 Supply Chain Order on December 10, 2020.  Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 7821 (2020).  On July 13, 2021, the Commission amended its rules, consistent with amendments to the Secure Networks Act included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.  Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Third Report and Order, FCC 21-86, 2021 WL 3024271, at 49-51, Appx. A (Jul. 13, 2021) (2021 Supply Chain Order).
  Covered communications equipment or services eligible for Reimbursement Program support is limited to communications equipment or services produced or provided by Huawei Technologies Company (Huawei) or ZTE Corporation (ZTE), that were obtained by providers on or before June 30, 2020. 2021 Supply Chain Order, 2021 WL 3024271, at 49-51, Appx. A.  See generally Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs – Huawei Designation, PS Docket No. 19-351, Order, 35 FCC Rcd 6604 (PSHSB 2020) (Huawei Designation Order); Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs – ZTE Designation, PS Docket No. 19-352, Order, 35 FCC Rcd 6633 (PSHSB 2020) (ZTE Designation Order).


Registration is not required for the webinar.

Questions about the Reimbursement Program can be emailed to the Reimbursement Program Fund Administrator by emailing SCRPFundAdmin@fcc.gov or by calling the Fund Administrator Help Desk at (202) 418-7540 from 9:00 AM ET to 5:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.

Open captioning will be provided for this event.  Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Requests for such accommodations should be submitted via e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice).  Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed.  In addition, please include a way for the FCC to contact the requester if more information is needed to fill the request.  Last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate.

For additional information about the webinar, please contact supplychain@fcc.gov.  Interested parties are encouraged to visit the Reimbursement Program webpage: https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain.


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