The Federal Communications Commission has added three entities to its list of communications equipment and services that are deemed to be a threat to the nation’s security. They include a familiar brand of anti-virus and cybersecurity products.
On March 25 the FCC expanded its list to include AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp. and China Mobile International USA Inc. to its list of communications equipment and services that are a threat to national security. It said those additions are based on requirements in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019.
The act requires the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to maintain and publish a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or to the security and safety of individuals in the United States. Known colloquially as the Covered List, the document was first published in March 2021 and is continually updated as other communications equipment and services are identified as being a threat, the FCC said.
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“[This] action is the latest in the FCC’s ongoing efforts, as part of the greater whole-of-government approach, to strengthen America’s communications networks against national security threats, including examining the foreign ownership of telecommunications companies providing service in the United States and revoking the authorization to operate where necessary,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a release when the announcement was made. “Our work in this area continues.”
The list includes names and descriptions of companies, the equipment or services they provide as well as the date that a company was added. A total of eight companies are now included on that list, including telecommunications equipment providers like Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation, video surveillance equipment from Hytera Communications and Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, and video surveillance and telecom equipment from Dahua Technology Company.
The FCC also noted that those included on the list also include any subsidiaries or affiliates related to each entity.
