US communications watchdog seeks to accelerate removal of Huawei, ZTE equipment by rural carriers
- FCC aims to increase the number of rural network carriers eligible for ‘rip-and-replace’ funds
- Proposed changes would allow carriers with up to 10 million customers to access funds
The US government’s communications watchdog said on Wednesday that it is seeking ways to allow more rural telecommunications carriers to tap a federal fund to help them accelerate theremoval and replacement of equipment made by Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in its first open meeting since US President Joe Biden took office, said that it proposed to increase the number of rural carriers eligible to tap the reimbursement funds on national security grounds and sought to expand uptake.
Former President Donald Trump signed into law legislation last March that required the removal of equipment made by the two companies owing to concern within the US intelligence community and among lawmakers that the gear might contain bugs that would allow the transfer of US data to Beijing. Congress later approved US$1.9 billion reimbursement funds to help with the costs.
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“There is no task at this agency or really any part of the federal government that is more important than keeping the American people safe,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, the acting FCC chairwoman, who called the rip-and-replace effort “critical”.
“We know there are vulnerabilities that come with this equipment, and those vulnerabilities could provide foreign interests with access to our networks, jeopardizing the security of communications in the United States,” she said.
In particular, the FCC is proposing to make the funds eligible to rural network carriers with up to 10 million customers, raising the cap from an earlier cap of 2 million.
Huawei and ZTE have each repeatedly denied allegations that the companies could be giving network access to foreign interests. In Huawei’s most recent lawsuit, the company said the FCC’s ruling in December exceeded its authority and was “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, and not supported by substantial evidence.”