WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) said on Thursday nearly 40% of U.S. telecom

companies need additional government funding to remove equipment

made by Chinese telecoms firms Huawei and ZTE (Shenzhen:000063) from

American wireless networks to address security risks.

The FCC said removing the equipment is estimated to cost

$4.98 billion but Congress has only approved $1.9 billion.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel on Thursday called on Congress

for urgent additional funding, warning some carriers have told

the FCC recently "that they foresee significant consequences

that could result from the lack of full funding, including

having to shut down their networks."