US: Understanding the latest FCC restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment

The new rules implement the Secure Equipment Act of 2021

Image Credit: Phil Siarri

On November 25, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved new regulations banning the importation or sale of communications equipment judged to pose an unacceptable threat to national security in the U.S.

Here are some key points:

• The ban includes video surveillance equipment.
• The “Covered List” currently shows communications equipment from Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, as well as Dahua Technology.
• The new guidelines enforce the mandate in the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, which President Biden signed into law in November and compels the FCC to create such standards.
• Previous efforts by the U.S. government kept American companies from exporting technology to certain Chinese companies, just not the other way around.
• It’s unclear if the new rules could seriously affect the B2C market (e.g. video surveillance kits sold on Amazon).

And just like that… the trade war continues…

This story was first published on The PhilaVerse (my Substack newsletter).