the initial list published under section 2(a), 
August 14, 2018; or 
(ii) in the case of any covered commu-
nications equipment or service that is not 
on the initial list published under section 
2(a), the date that is 60 days after the date 
on which the Commission places such equip-
ment or service on the list required by such 
section; or 
(B) purchase, rent, lease, or otherwise ob-
tain any covered communications equipment or 
service, using reimbursement funds or any other 
funds (including funds derived from private 
sources). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com-
mission shall promulgate regulations to implement 
the Program. 
(2) SUGGESTED REPLACEMENTS.— 
(A) DEVELOPMENT OF LIST.—The Commis-
sion shall develop a list of suggested replacements 
of both physical and virtual communications 
equipment, application and management soft-
ware, and services. 
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(B) NEUTRALITY.—The list developed under 
subparagraph (A) shall be technology neutral 
and may not advantage the use of reimburse-
ment funds for capital expenditures over oper-
ational expenditures, to the extent that the Com-
mission determines that communications services 
can serve as an adequate substitute for the in-
stallation of communications equipment. 
(3) APPLICATION PROCESS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
develop an application process and related forms 
and materials for the Program. 
(B) COST ESTIMATE.— 
(i) INITIAL ESTIMATE.—The Commis-
sion shall require an applicant to provide 
an initial reimbursement cost estimate at 
the time of application, with supporting 
materials substantiating the costs. 
(ii) UPDATES.—During and after the 
application review process, the Commission 
may require an applicant to— 
(I) update the initial reimburse-
ment cost estimate submitted under 
clause (i); and 
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(II) submit additional supporting 
materials substantiating an updated 
cost estimate submitted under sub-
clause (I). 
(C) MITIGATION
OF
BURDEN.—In devel-
oping the application process under this para-
graph, the Commission shall take reasonable 
steps to mitigate the administrative burdens and 
costs associated with the application process, 
while taking into account the need to avoid 
waste, fraud, and abuse in the Program. 
(4) APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS.— 
(A) DEADLINE.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii) and subparagraph (B), the 
Commission shall approve or deny an ap-
plication for a reimbursement under the 
Program not later than 90 days after the 
date of the submission of the application. 
(ii) ADDITIONAL
TIME
NEEDED
BY 
COMMISSION.—If the Commission deter-
mines that, because an excessive number of 
applications have been filed at one time, the 
Commission needs additional time for em-
ployees of the Commission to process the ap-
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plications, the Commission may extend the 
deadline described in clause (i) for not more 
than 45 days. 
(B) OPPORTUNITY FOR APPLICANT TO CURE 
DEFICIENCY.—If the Commission determines that 
an application is materially deficient (including 
by lacking an adequate cost estimate or adequate 
supporting materials), the Commission shall pro-
vide the applicant a 15-day period to cure the 
defect before denying the application. If such pe-
riod would extend beyond the deadline under 
subparagraph (A) for approving or denying the 
application, such deadline shall be extended 
through the end of such period. 
(C) EFFECT OF DENIAL.—Denial of an ap-
plication for a reimbursement under the Pro-
gram shall not preclude the applicant from re-
submitting the application or submitting a new 
application for a reimbursement under the Pro-
gram at a later date. 
(5) CERTIFICATIONS.—An applicant for a reim-
bursement under the Program shall, in the applica-
tion of the applicant, certify to the Commission 
that— 
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(A) as of the date of the submission of the 
application, the applicant— 
(i) has developed a plan for— 
(I) the permanent removal and re-
placement of any covered communica-
tions equipment or services that are in 
the communications network of the ap-
plicant as of such date; and 
(II) the disposal of the equipment 
or services removed as described in sub-
clause (I) in accordance with the re-
quirements under paragraph (8); and 
(ii) has developed a specific timeline 
(subject to paragraph (7)) for the perma-
nent removal, replacement, and disposal of 
the covered communications equipment or 
services identified under clause (i), which 
timeline shall be submitted to the Commis-
sion as part of the application; and 
(B) beginning on the date of the approval 
of the application, the applicant— 
(i) will not purchase, rent, lease, or 
otherwise obtain covered communications 
equipment or services, using reimbursement 
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funds or any other funds (including funds 
derived from private sources); and 
(ii) in developing and tailoring the 
risk management practices of the applicant, 
will consult and consider the standards, 
guidelines, and best practices set forth in 
the cybersecurity framework developed by 
the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. 
(6) 
DISTRIBUTION
OF
REIMBURSEMENT 
FUNDS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
make reasonable efforts to ensure that reimburse-
ment funds are distributed equitably among all 
applicants for reimbursements under the Pro-
gram according to the needs of the applicants, as 
identified by the applications of the applicants. 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—If, at any time during 
the implementation of the Program, the Commis-
sion determines that the funds made available to 
the Commission to carry out the Program will 
not be sufficient to fully fund all approved appli-
cations for reimbursements under the Program, 
the Commission shall immediately notify— 
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