The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import and sale in the country of telecommunications equipment from Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology, as well as their subsidiaries. This was reported on the website of the regulator.
A press release from the agency clarified that the decision to ban was made due to the fact that the equipment “is considered to pose an unacceptable risk to national security in the United States.”
“The FCC is committed to protecting our national security by ensuring that untrusted communications equipment is not allowed to be used within our borders, and we continue to do so,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworthel said in a press release. “These new rules are an important part of our ongoing efforts to protect the American people from telecommunications-related national security threats.”
The press service of the regulator clarified that these rules are being introduced as part of the equipment law signed in November 2021 by US President John Biden. The FCC also banned the use of public funds to purchase equipment from the list, launched a reimbursement program for the removal of unsafe equipment already installed in the United States, and others.
In August 2018, the U.S. passed a bill that would ban the U.S. government from using Huawei and ZTE equipment. The US has also banned the use of Huawei equipment to build 5G networks and is urging its allies to do the same.
As part of the trade war with China, the administration of former US President Donald Trump has banned the supply of foreign-made products with American technology or American equipment to Huawei without special permission from the Department of Commerce. Due to this ban, Huawei cannot produce its most advanced chips, which are used in top-end smartphones.