Due to “national security concerns,” the United States has banned the sale and import of new Huawei & ZTE telecommunications equipment.
The sale and import of new Huawei and ZTE products are prohibited under new rules that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved, according to documents made available by the organisation on Friday.
Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the FCC, stated that “today, the FCC takes an extraordinary step to defend our networks and boost America’s national security.”
“Our unanimous decision marks the first time in FCC history that we have voted to ban the approval of new devices due to national safety concerns.
The decision also restricts the sale or import of goods produced by the Chinese firms Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd., video surveillance company Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd. (002415. S.Z.), & surveillance equipment manufacturer Dahua Technology Co. (002583. S.Z.).
As a critical way of addressing the “Huawei loophole,” a situation where insecure equipment might continue to be certified for use in the U.S. by the FCC despite the threat presented to our national security, Carr called for the FCC to take this move in 2021, said in a thread of tweets.
“We thus order that no new Huawei or ZTE equipment shall be approved. In addition, no new Dahua, Hikvision, or Hytera equipment can be allowed unless the manufacturers guarantee the FCC that the equipment won’t be used for purposes related to national security, public safety, or security of government facilites” he added
U.S. not at risk – Hikvision
Requests for comment from the media from Huawei, ZTE, Dahua, Hytera, and the Chinese embassy in Washington were not immediately answered.
Hikvision, a top supplier of innovative IoT solutions and video security systems, said in a statement that its products pose no threat to the United States.
Hikvision stated that the FCC’s decision “would do nothing to protect U.S. national security, but will significantly make it more costly and harmful for U.S. small businesses, local governments, school districts, and individual customers to secure themselves, their homes, businesses, & property.”
It would continue to provide services to United State clients “in complete compliance” with United State laws, it was added.
The new rules
Following March 2021’s notorious ‘Covered List’ of five Chinese companies for posing a threat to national security under a 2019 law aimed at protect US communication networks firms; Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp., Hikvision and Dahua.
The FCC announced in June 2021 that it was considering prohibiting all equipment authorizations for all businesses on the covered list.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that “these new rules are an important factor of our ongoing efforts to protect the American people from national security threats affecting telecommunications.”
The proposed regulation was sent to the other three commissioners for final approval by Rosenworcel last month. This law effectively prohibits companies from selling brand-new machinery in the United States.
All four agency commissioners—two Republicans and two Democrats—supported the decision on Friday.
