Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (2019)

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act created United States communications-supply-chain protections and a reimbursement mechanism for removing and replacing specified insecure equipment and services. It is not a general prohibition on possessing every item connected to a company on the Federal Communications Commission's Covered List.

Distinct legal effects

The FCC maintains the current Covered List under statutory criteria. Inclusion can affect the use of federal universal-service support and related authorisation rules, but list status, equipment authorisation, procurement exclusion and a transaction-wide ban are different consequences.

The reimbursement programme supports eligible providers' removal, replacement and disposal of covered equipment. Congress determines appropriations; the FCC administers applications, approved costs, allocations, deadlines, extensions, reporting and enforcement. A recipient is not the programme administrator, and an approved cost is not the same as cash disbursed or completed removal.

Current implementation

Additional funding allowed Priority 1 recipients to receive allocations equal to their approved cost estimates. The FCC continued deadline administration, extension decisions, oversight and enforcement after the May 2026 completion deadline. Some recipients may operate under extensions or continuing close-out obligations.

As at 30 July 2026, the current Covered List, programme page, eighth report and 47 CFR Part 1 Subpart DD control. Analysis should record the list date, recipient class, approved-cost denominator, allocation, expenditure, certified completion and enforcement status.

The Act complements Procurement ban on adversary technology, the United States Entity List and foreign direct product rule campaign against Huawei (2019-present), Allied restrictions on Huawei in 5G networks (2018-present) and 5G telecommunications infrastructure and high-risk vendor controls. Those regimes have separate authorities and scopes.

Sources

1. United States Congress, Public Law 116-124.
2. Federal Communications Commission, Covered List (accessed 30 July 2026).
3. Federal Communications Commission, Supply Chain Reimbursement Program (accessed 30 July 2026).
4. Federal Communications Commission, Eighth programme report.
5. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 47 CFR Part 1 Subpart DD (accessed 30 July 2026).