The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finalized its efforts to ban the certification of testing laboratories that pose a potential threat to U.S. national security.
The FCC issued its Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), prohibiting entities identified on the Commission’s “Covered List” from being authorized as telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs) under the FCC’s equipment authorization program. It implements the proposed changes set forth in an NPRM issued by the Commission (also known as the EA Integrity NPRM).
The Report and Order bans any testing lab with direct or indirect ownership of 10% or more by an entity on the Covered List. The FCC’s Covered List includes major wireless equipment manufacturers that, in the Commission’s view, “pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.” The Covered List includes major global wireless manufacturers, including Huawei and ZTE, which reportedly have ties to the government of the People’s Republic of China and Chinese state-owned enterprises.
In the companion NPRM, the FCC is seeking comments on plans to expand its equipment authorization program prohibitions to include entities in addition to those on the Covered List that could “adversely affect a TCB’s or test lab’s trustworthiness or otherwise undermine the public’s confidence.” The Commission is also seeking input on whether it should consider revising its current post-market surveillance rules, policies, or guidance to anticipate such concerns.
The FCC’s Report and Order and NPRM detailing its changes to TCB certification rules are available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-27A1.pdf.
