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Tech war: FCC says reinstating ‘net neutrality’ rules could boost agency’s authority to remove Huawei, ZTE equipment from US networks
- FCC’s proposal to reinstate net neutrality rules also seeks to prohibit use of Chinese gear in other network infrastructure, including data centres
- Washington’s efforts to counter Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE come amid US fears that Beijing could use their equipment to spy on Americans
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said on Thursday that the agency’s proposal to reinstate net neutrality rules could give it new authority to force the removal of equipment from China-based Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from US networks, including data centres.
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The 129-page proposal asks for public input if new rules designed to bar internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic, or offering paid fast lanes, would give the FCC “more robust authority to require more entities to remove and replace covered Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services”.
It also asks if the authority would allow it to prohibit Chinese equipment in any network infrastructure used to route or transmit communications, including data centres and internet exchange facilities.
Huawei and ZTE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The FCC in November banned approvals of new telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE, saying they posed “an unacceptable risk” to US national security.
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In September 2022, the FCC named Chinese telecoms companies Pacific Networks and China Unicom (Americas) as threats to US national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting communications networks.
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