Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Response to Reps. Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi Regarding Security Risks Posed By Cellular Connectivity Modules

On August 7, Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) wrote Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel with concerns about the security risks posed by cellular connectivity modules provided by companies subject to the jurisdiction, direction, or control of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). On September 5, the Chairwoman wrote back saying that the s approach is to “deter, defend, and develop”: deter bad actors, defend against untrusted vendors, and develop a market for trustworthy innovation. Consistent with this strategy, the FCC revoked the operating authorities of four Chinese state-owned carriers that were providing service in the US under Section 214 of the Communications Act. The FCC also adopted policies to regularly review foreign companies’ authorizations to provide telecommunications services in the US, ensuring that any authorization reflects up-to-date national security interests and is not frozen in time when Section 214 approval is granted. Additionally, the FCC has worked with our national security counterparts to publish and update the first-ever list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the FCC can update this list only at the direction of national security authorities—specifically the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Acquisition Security Council. In other words, the agency cannot update this list on its own. Finally, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Congress provided $1.9 billion to support the removal of this equipment in our networks. However, this amount falls short of what is required. As I have previously noted to Congress, an additional $3.08 billion is needed to fully fund this program and support the many small and rural carriers that have deployed this equipment and need to replace it in their networks.