FCC Reportedly Gears Up To Ban Sales Of Huawei, ZTE Hardware

A recent report by Axios indicates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working to ban the sales of new telecommunications devices made by two Chinese firms: Huawei and ZTE. While the ban is still a while away from being imposed, FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has reportedly circulated a draft order proposing the ban. The ban would come into effect only after it receives a vote of approval from Rosenworcel and the FCC’s other commissioners, Brendan Carr, Geoffrey Starks, and Nathan Simington. If the draft is approved, it will result in a complete ban on the sales of all new telecommunication equipment made by Huawei and ZTE. However, since this ban is not retroactive, these companies can continue to sell older equipment previously approved by the FCC.

If the ban comes into effect, it will mark the first time the FCC has swooped in to ban the sale of electronic equipment in the U.S. on national security grounds. In addition, the Axios report says that this order could also ban some video surveillance equipment made by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hikvision, and Dahua Technoloy Company, all Chinese corporations.

The news of this possible blanket ban comes several months after several U.S. carriers wanted the FCC to sanction a reimbursement fee amounting to $5.6 billion to “rip and replace” telecommunication equipment purchased from Chinese vendors and replace them with equipment from safer companies.