The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday identified five Chinese companies as national security threats under a 2019 law aimed at protecting American communications networks, Reuters reported.
The Commission said the companies included Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Zhejiang Dahua Technology.
A 2019 law requires the FCC to identify telecommunications equipment and service companies “that have been identified as posing an unacceptable risk to US national security.”
Acting Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworthl said in a statement: “This list is a meaningful guide to ensure that as new generation networks are built across the country, they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past and don’t use the equipment or services that will a threat to US national security or the safety and security of Americans. “
The 2019 law used criteria from the Defense Permit Bill that previously identified five Chinese companies. In August 2020, the US government issued regulations prohibiting institutions from purchasing goods or services from any of the five Chinese companies.
In 2019, the US added Huawei, Hikvision, and other firms to its economic blacklist.