This bill would significantly increase federal funding for removing Chinese telecommunications equipment from U.S. networks and require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a new spectrum auction. Specifically, it raises the cap on the "rip and replace" program from $1.9 billion to $4.98 billion and appropriates an additional $3.08 billion for fiscal year 2024 to support this equipment replacement effort, which affects telecommunications companies operating in the United States. The bill also directs the FCC to hold a competitive bidding auction for wireless spectrum licenses in the AWS-3 frequency bands within one year of enactment and requires the commission to complete the auction process regardless of whether its legal authority to conduct such auctions has expired. The legislation serves dual purposes of strengthening national security by removing foreign-made equipment from critical communications infrastructure while generating potential revenue through the spectrum auction.
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