Lummis Secures Funding for Rip and Replace to Protect the People of Wyoming’s Privacy

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) recently announced that she secured key funding for Rip and Replace in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024. Rip and Replace funding is integral to national security because it will remove dangerous Chinese components from wireless communications systems in the U.S. and replace them with safe and secure equipment. Senator Lummis spoke earlier this year at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about the threats Chinese-manufactured equipment in our broadband and wireless networks pose to our communities and the urgent need for Congress to fund Rip and Replace.

Lummis said the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 fully funds Rip and Replace, ensuring small wireless and broadband carriers throughout Wyoming will not be saddled with millions of dollars in costs that could result in service blackouts and companies closing down. Senator Lummis added that poor connectivity continues to be one of Wyoming’s biggest challenges and now more than ever, we have the ability to not only ensure even the most rural corners of the Cowboy State have reliable broadband access but also protect this critical resource from foreign adversaries.