Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking steps to prevent Huawei, ZTE, and other foreign companies considered potential threats to U.S. security from certifying wireless equipment, officials informed Reuters.
Scheduled for a vote this month, the FCC’s bipartisan proposal seeks to ensure that telecommunications certification bodies and test labs responsible for certifying wireless devices for the U.S. market remain free from influence by companies posing security risks. Notably, the FCC recently rejected Huawei’s test lab’s participation in the equipment authorization program.
The proposed regulation, if passed, would permanently bar Huawei and other entities identified on an FCC list of national security risks from participating in the equipment authorization program. The FCC emphasized that this measure aims to equip the agency and its national security partners with the necessary tools to safeguard the certification process.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel underscored the importance of adapting to evolving security and supply chain threats, stating, “We must ensure that our equipment authorization program and those entrusted with administering it can rise to the challenge posed by persistent and ever-changing security and supply chain threats.”
Despite Huawei’s lab recognition expiring, the FCC denied its request for an extension, and Huawei has yet to respond to the decision.
FCC’s action follows a series of prior measures aimed at mitigating risks associated with certain foreign entities. In November 2022, the FCC prohibited approvals of new telecommunications equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology.
Moreover, in 2019, Russia’s Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas), China Mobile International USA, Pacific Networks Corp, and China Unicom (Americas) were added to the list of companies posing threats to U.S. national security.
Huawei and Hikvision have been under scrutiny for some time. Both were placed on a U.S. export control list in 2019, which restricted most U.S. suppliers from conducting business with them without obtaining licenses.
Additionally, in 2020, FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats to communications networks, preventing U.S. companies from accessing an $8.3 billion government fund for purchasing equipment from these companies.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr expressed support for the proposal, stating that it would “ensure that the test labs and certification bodies that review electronic devices for compliance with FCC requirements are themselves trustworthy actors that the FCC can rely on.”
