US FCC set to ban approvals of new Huawei and ZTE equipment, document shows

If approved, the move would ‘close the door’ in the US on using gear from the two Chinese telecoms firms now blacklisted on national-security grounds

Analysts say latest tightening of restrictions on semiconductors and telecommunications points to tougher US line towards China

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The ban affecting Huawei is now being voted on by the US Federal Communications Commission and is widely expected to pass. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:51am, 14 Oct 2022Updated: 2:18am, 15 Oct 2022

The US Federal Communications Commission is set to formally ban approvals of new Huawei and ZTE telecommunications equipment on national security grounds, according to media reports and industry experts.

The issue is currently being voted on by FCC commissioners and is widely expected to pass, they added. The agency, which regulates cable, radio, television, satellite and wire communication, acknowledged a proposal was now being circulated without detailing which companies were involved.

“The FCC remains committed to protecting our national security by ensuring that untrustworthy communications equipment is not authorised for use within our borders, and we are continuing that work here,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.

Huawei and ZTE equipment have faced restrictions since the administration of former president Donald Trump added them to a trade blacklist in 2019 limiting US companies from doing business with the Chinese network providers without a waiver.

Last year FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the FCC had approved more than 3,000 applications from Huawei since 2018. But the latest move would tighten this further by enshrining it in regulation.

The US defence community maintains that Chinese network systems, particularly those involving radio transmission capabilities, could be used for espionage.