Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioner Carr Call for Agency Rules to Bar Entities of National Security Concern from Certifying Wireless Equipment

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr today announced a proposal to ensure that wireless equipment authorizations are not compromised by entities that have been found to pose national security concerns. If adopted by a vote of the full Commission at its next Open Meeting, this bipartisan proposal would ensure that telecommunications certification bodies and test labs that certify wireless devices for the U.S. market are not influenced by untrustworthy actors. The Commission’s senior leaders seek to strengthen the integrity of the FCC’s equipment authorization program and build a more secure and resilient supply chain that is resistant to evolving national security threats. This new proceeding would permanently prohibit Huawei and other entities on the FCC’s Covered List from playing any role in the equipment authorization program while also providing the FCC and its national security partners the necessary tools to safeguard this important process. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes prohibiting the equipment authorization program working with any lab or certification body with direct or indirect ownership or control by any entity on the Covered List.