Lawmakers Request FCC to Review China's Huawei, ZTE

Lawmakers asked the Federal Communications Commission to review the security risks of domestic companies ordering network equipment from China's Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp.

The Chinese companies are in "active" discussions to supply at least two US companies, Sprint Nextel and Cricket Communications, Sen Jon Kyl (R-AZ) wrote in a letter co-signed by three other lawmakers. It's at least the second time in two months that U.S. lawmakers have prodded the Obama administration to review the risks of buying Chinese telecommunications equipment. Eight U.S. lawmakers on Aug. 18 warned that a Sprint contract with Huawei would "undermine U.S. national security." A copy of the letter -- also signed by senators Joseph Lieberman, an Independent from Connecticut; Susan Collins, a Maine Republican; and Republican Representative Sue Myrick from North Carolina -- was posted on the website of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Sens Kyl and Collins were also signatories to the August letter.