US FCC probing if Huawei, other Chinese firms are seeking to evade curbs

The US Federal Communications Commission said on Friday it is investigating nine Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Hangzhou Hikvision, China Mobile, China Telecom and others to determine if they are seeking to evade US restrictions.

The Chinese companies have all been placed on the FCC’s “Covered List” that deems specific communications equipment and services pose a threat to US national security.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the companies may be still operating in the US because they do not believe the designation prohibits particular types of operations. Other companies under investigation include Hytera Communications, Dahua Technology Company, Pacifica Networks/ComNet and China Unicom (Americas).

It is the latest in a series of actions against Chinese telecoms and technology firms by Washington. The FCC previously barred the Chinese companies from providing telecommunications services in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The companies did not comment or immediately respond to requests for comment.

Carr said the FCC has reason to believe some or all of the Chinese firms on the list “are trying to make an end run around those FCC prohibitions by continuing to do business in America on a private or ‘unregulated’ basis”.

  

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