Scalise: Stop China from further damaging U.S. telecom network

U.S. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) offered a bipartisan bill to ensure that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not approve radio frequency devices that pose a national security risk, particularly from China. 

Rep. Scalise on June 15 sponsored the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, H.R. 3919, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) to prohibit the FCC from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses to companies on the agency’s “Covered Equipment or Services List” that pose a national security threat, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s staff.

“I’m proud to sponsor this important legislation with Rep. Eshoo to strengthen our national security and stand up to subsidiaries of the Chinese Communist Party,” Rep. Scalise said.

In 2020, at the request of Congress, the FCC published a list of telecommunications companies deemed to be a national security threat, prohibited the use of federal funds for purchasing equipment made by those companies, and authorized funding for U.S. telecom carriers to rip and replace equipment made by those companies, according to information provided by Rep. Scalise’s office, but U.S. carriers can still privately purchase the equipment on the open market.

If enacted, H.R. 3919 would add another layer of security by preventing equipment manufactured by Chinese state-backed firms, such as Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua, from being further utilized and marketed in the United States, the information says.

“For far too long, we’ve allowed manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE — backed by the Chinese Communist Party — to have access to American networks, which has jeopardized our national security and threatened the individual safety of the American people,” said Rep. Scalise. “China must be stopped from doing further damage to our telecommunications network.”

FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr voiced support for the bill, which is companion legislation to the same-named S. 1790, introduced on May 24 by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in their chamber.