Ajit Pai, the Chair of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reportedly shared with his fellow Commissioners a two-part proposal that would place significant restrictions on the use of telecommunications equipment from Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation and others in the deployment of 5G technology in the U.S.
According to a press release issued by the FCC in late October, Pai’s proposal includes a draft Report and Order that would bar communications companies from using monies received under the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF) to purchase equipment or services from “companies posing a national security threat.” The press release specially references Huawei and ZTE, and notes that the draft Order would “establish a process for designating other suppliers that pose a national security threat.”
The second part of Pai’s proposal is a draft Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would require carriers receiving USF funds to remove existing equipment from named suppliers from service. The draft Proposed Rulemaking would also evaluate how best to provide financial assistance to the carriers forced to remove such equipment.
“As the United States upgrades its networks to the next generation of wireless technologies – 5G – we cannot ignore the risk that the Chinese government will seek to exploit network vulnerabilities in order to engage in espionage, insert malware and viruses, and otherwise compromise our critical communications networks,” said Pai.
The commission is expected to vote on Pai’s proposal at its November 19th meeting.
A document prepared by the FCC that provides detailed background on Pai’s proposal to protect the U.S. communications infrastructure is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-360481A1.pdf.
