The Federal Communications Commission’s chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, said on Thursday that the organization’s proposal to reinstate net neutrality rules may give it more power to compel the removal of hardware made by Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE from American networks, including data centres.

The public is asked to weigh in on whether new rules intended to stop internet service providers from charging for fast lanes or limiting traffic would give the FCC “more robust authority to require more entities to remove and replace covered Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services.” The 129-page document asks for feedback.

It also asks if the authority would allow it to prohibit the use of Chinese technology in data centres, internet exchanges, and any other network infrastructure that is used to transmit or route communications.

There were no comments from Huawei and ZTE on the issue.  

With regards to Huawei and ZTE, the FCC in November prohibited the approval of new telecom equipment because they constituted “an unacceptable risk” to American national security.

In accordance with a 2019 law intended to safeguard communications networks, the FCC designated Chinese telecom firms Pacific Networks and China Unicom (Americas) as dangers to American national security in September 2022.

Prior to now, it had previously withdrawn or denied Chinese telecom companies permission to operate in the US.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) claimed that the net neutrality regulations would improve the organization’s “ability to protect the nation’s communications networks from entities that pose threats to national security.”

The current “authority does not cover broadband,” according to Rosenworcel. There is a security gap here that has to be closed.

The proposal, which is up for a first vote on October 19, also inquires as to whether the FCC may forbid internet service providers from concluding traffic exchange agreements with specific businesses on the basis of national security.

According to a prior statement made by the Chinese embassy in Washington, the FCC “abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators again without factual basis.” The U.S. government has been “unlawfully and irrationally” targeting Huawei, according to Huawei, which has frequently refuted accusations of misconduct.

The United States is making an attempt to combat Chinese internet titans amid concerns that Beijing may use them to spy on Americans. Since years, Washington has put pressure on allies of the United States to stop using Huawei or ZTE hardware in 5G networks or removing it from current networks.

The FCC flagged Huawei and ZTE as security risks, obliging American carriers to remove their hardware or risk losing access to a $8.3 billion government fund for the acquisition of new hardware. However, Congress only budgeted $1.9 billion to support the so-called “rip and replace” initiative.

(Adapted from Reuters.com)

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