The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States is expected to vote on new regulations this month to further tighten restrictions on Chinese telecommunications companies, aiming to prevent Chinese-made equipment deemed as “national security risks” from entering the U.S. network. This move is seen as the latest step in Washington’s ongoing escalation of scrutiny in the technology and national security sectors.
According to Reuters, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the commission will hold a vote on October 28th, planning to ban any equipment containing components from companies on the “Covered List” from being imported or sold in the U.S., and authorize the FCC to revoke sales permits for approved products when deemed necessary.
Carr emphasized that the FCC will also consider how to “further enhance review mechanisms to prevent suspicious equipment from entering U.S. networks.”
Currently, Chinese companies on the “Covered List” include Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, Dahua Technology, China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom Hong Kong. Under current regulations, the FCC is not allowed to approve the import or sale of new equipment from these companies in the U.S.
In March of this year, the FCC announced investigations into nine Chinese companies on the list, including Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Dahua Technology, Pacific Networks (a subsidiary of China’s CITIC Group) and its ComNet subsidiary, and China Unicom Americas. The focus of the investigations is whether these companies are carrying out business operations in the U.S. by circumventing the bans through agents or third parties.
Carr stated in a public statement that some or all Chinese companies may attempt to bypass the current FCC bans through private or “unregulated” means to continue conducting telecommunications business in the U.S.
According to FCC public documents, the commission has issued Letters of Inquiry to relevant companies and subpoenaed some entities to provide business information and related documents for review. The investigation process is ongoing.
Additionally, the FCC recently took action against Chinese-owned background check institutions. In September, the commission initiated proceedings to revoke the accreditation of seven testing labs believed to be controlled by the Chinese authorities in the U.S. due to national security risks. These labs were responsible for testing electronic products such as smartphones, surveillance cameras, and computers. As early as May of this year, the FCC passed new regulations banning such labs from testing electronic devices intended for the U.S. market.
Since 2020, the U.S. government has taken a series of actions citing national security concerns to restrict Chinese communication and surveillance companies’ operations in the U.S. The FCC has revoked operating permits for China Telecom and China Unicom in the U.S., alleging the companies are controlled by the Chinese regime and may aid in data collection of U.S. users or interfere with communication networks.
Furthermore, Huawei and ZTE were recognized by the FCC as “national security threats,” with their equipment banned from use in U.S. telecommunications networks. The government has also mandated that subsidized operators remove and replace existing Chinese equipment.
Moreover, surveillance equipment manufacturers like Hangzhou Hikvision and Dahua Technology were added to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Entity List,” citing their products being used for surveillance and human rights violations in Xinjiang by the Chinese authorities. These measures demonstrate that the U.S. has incorporated the communication and information technology sector into its core national security strategy and continues to strengthen scrutiny and prevention measures against Chinese high-tech companies.