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FCC Proposal to Bar Huawei and Security Risk Companies from Device Certification Program
The FCC plans to permanently prohibit Huawei and other entities on the national security risk list from participating in the equipment authorisation program. The ban on new telecommunications equipment approvals from Huawei, ZTE, and other companies was implemented in November 2022. Huawei and Hikvision were placed on a US export control list in 2019, limiting their access to goods and technology from US suppliers.
The FCC is set to vote on a bipartisan proposal this month that aims to ensure that certification bodies and test labs, which certify wireless devices for the US market, are not influenced by companies that pose security risks. Last week, the FCC denied Huawei's test lab from participating in the equipment authorisation program.
Under this new proposal, Huawei and other entities on the FCC's list of companies posing national security risks would be permanently prohibited from playing any role in the equipment authorisation program. The FCC believes that this measure will provide the necessary tools to safeguard the certification process and protect national security.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasised the importance of addressing persistent security and supply chain threats, stating that the agency must ensure that the equipment authorisation program and those responsible for administering it can rise to the challenge. Huawei's accreditation as a lab was set to expire on Tuesday, but the FCC denied their request for an extension. Huawei has not yet responded to the request for comment.
In November 2022, the FCC banned the approval of new telecommunications equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. Additionally, in 2022, the FCC added AO Kaspersky Lab from Russia, China Telecom (Americas) Corp, China Mobile International USA, Pacific Networks Corp, and China Unicom (Americas) to the list of companies that pose threats to US national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting US communications networks.
Huawei and Hikvision were placed on a US export control list in 2019, which restricted most US suppliers from shipping goods and technology to them unless they obtained licenses. In 2020, the FCC designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats to communications networks, which prevented US companies from using an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from these companies.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr expressed support for the proposal, stating that it will ensure that the test labs and certification bodies responsible for reviewing electronic devices for compliance with FCC requirements are trustworthy actors that the FCC can rely on.
The FCC plans to permanently prohibit Huawei and other entities on the national security risk list from participating in the equipment authorisation program.
The ban on new telecommunications equipment approvals from Huawei, ZTE, and other companies was implemented in November 2022.
Huawei and Hikvision were placed on a US export control list in 2019, limiting their access to goods and technology from US suppliers.
Source: REUTERS