The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to prevent Huawei, ZTE, and other foreign companies with national security concerns from certifying wireless equipment in the U.S. market. The FCC is planning to vote on a proposal that would ensure that certification bodies and test labs are not influenced by these companies. The goal is to safeguard the equipment authorization program and protect against security threats and supply chain risks. The FCC recently denied Huawei’s test lab the ability to participate in the equipment authorization program, and a new proposal aims to permanently prohibit companies on the FCC’s national security risk list from playing any role in the certification process.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel stated the importance of ensuring that the equipment authorization program can address evolving security threats. The denial of Huawei’s lab from participating in the program signifies the agency’s commitment to safeguarding against potential risks. The FCC’s November 2022 ban on new approvals of equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co reflects the agency’s efforts to protect U.S. communications networks from potential threats. The addition of Russia’s AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp, China Mobile International USA, Pacific Networks Corp, and China Unicom (Americas) to the covered list further demonstrates the FCC’s commitment to national security under a 2019 law.
The FCC’s actions are in response to national security concerns regarding companies such as Huawei and Hikvision, which were placed on the U.S. export control list in 2019. This restricts most U.S. suppliers from shipping goods and technology to these companies without licenses. In 2020, Huawei and ZTE were designated as national security threats to communications networks, preventing U.S. companies from using government funds to purchase equipment from them. The proposed measures are aimed at ensuring that test labs and certification bodies are trustworthy and reliable actors that the FCC can depend on to review electronic devices for compliance with FCC requirements.
The proposal put forth by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr aims to strengthen the review process for electronic devices to ensure compliance with FCC requirements. Carr emphasized the importance of ensuring that test labs and certification bodies are reliable partners that the FCC can rely on to protect against security threats. The proposal is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the U.S. communications networks from potential risks posed by foreign companies with national security concerns. By permanently prohibiting companies like Huawei and ZTE from participating in the equipment certification process, the FCC is taking proactive measures to protect against evolving security threats and ensure the integrity of the equipment authorization program.