The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security (HHS) on Friday (March 12) added five Chinese companies, including huawei, to its list of untrustworthy suppliers, deeming them a threat to U.S. national security.
The FCC issued a statement saying that under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (STAN), Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, ZTE Corporation, Henergy Communications Co Ltd, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd and Dahua Technology Co Ltd were added to the list of untrustworthy These Chinese manufacturers and service providers of communications equipment have been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or to Americans.
“This list is a big step toward restoring trust in our communications networks,” said FCC Acting Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel, “and provides meaningful guidance to ensure that the next generation of networks built across the United States networks do not repeat the mistakes of the past and must not use devices or services that could pose a threat to U.S. national security or the safety of Americans.”
“The Secure Cyber Act requires the FCC to publish and compile a list – a list of communications devices and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security or the safety of Americans. We will keep this list updated if other communications devices and services are also determined to violate the standards set forth in this law.” She added.
The Secure and Trusted Communications Act takes effect in March 2020. The Secure and Trusted Communications Act prohibits the use of federal subsidies to purchase equipment or services that the FCC determines pose a national security risk, and also establishes a compensation program to help telecommunications providers remove communications equipment or services that pose a security risk and use trusted vendor equipment instead, according to a separate statement issued Friday by the FCC.
Also in effect at the same Time as the Secure and Trusted Communications Network Act is The US5G Leadership Act, which marks the official action taken by the United States to implement, among other things, the “de-Huaweiization”.
The US5G Network Leadership Act requires the U.S. government to develop a strategy to ensure the security of the 5G communications infrastructure of the United States and its allies. The bill also requires strategies to ensure the integrity of international standard-setting organizations and to insulate them from political pressure.
Huawei and ZTE have been characterized by the FCC as “threats to U.S. national security” as early as November 2019.
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