CHINA-US: US FCC PLANS TO BAN APPROVAL OF NEW COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT USING PRODUCTS FROM CHINESE COMPANIES INCLUDING HUAWEI AND ZTE
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Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao (October 14) reported that
an internal document revealed the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to
ban approval of new U.S. communications equipment using products from Chinese
communications equipment companies Huawei and ZTE. The report cited national security
grounds. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel issued the proposed ban to three other commissioners
last week for final approval. The ban stipulates that neither Huawei nor ZTE can sell new
equipment in the United States without authorisation from the U.S. government. Rosenworcel
said in a statement that the FCC remains committed to protecting national security by ensuring
untrustworthy communications equipment is not authorised for use within the United States.
This is the first time the US FCC has banned the sale of electronic devices on national security
grounds. The FCC had earlier banned U.S. companies from using federal funds to buy
equipment from those companies, but the new order will extend that ban to all purchases. The
FCC rules would also explicitly prohibit the sale of video surveillance equipment for public
safety in the United States. This will affect U.S. sales by Chinese companies Hydra
Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision and Dahua Technology. However, the rule is not
retroactive, meaning U.S. companies can still sell FCC-approved Chinese communications
equipment. The Chinese embassy in the U.S. earlier this year criticised the FCC for “abusing state power” and again for “maliciously attacking” Chinese telecom operators without a factual
basis.
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