In a significant move aimed at bolstering national security, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the proposed guidelines on Net Neutrality will grant the agency new authority to enforce the removal of Chinese-based Huawei and ZTE equipment from U.S. networks, including critical infrastructures like data centers.
The 129-page proposal solicits public input on potential rules intended to prevent internet service providers from obstructing or slowing down traffic, or offering preferential fast lanes. It seeks to determine if these rules would empower the FCC to mandate the removal and replacement of Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services, extending to network infrastructure such as data centers and internet exchange facilities.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has already opposed the proposed guidelines on Net Neutrality, saying: “The American people want more freedom on the Internet — not greater government controls over their online lives.”

“Since the FCC’s 2017 decision to restore Internet freedom, broadband speeds in the U.S. are up, prices are down, competition has increased, and record-breaking broadband builds brought millions of Americans across the digital divide. Utility-style regulation of the Internet was never about improving your online experience. It was always about control,” Brendan Carr said.

This initiative follows the FCC’s prior ban on new approvals for telecommunications equipment from Huawei and ZTE in November, citing unacceptable risks to national security. In September 2022, the FCC identified Chinese telecom firms Pacific Networks and China Unicom (Americas) as security threats under a 2019 law aimed at safeguarding communications networks, Reuters news report said.

Chair Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized that the existing authority does not encompass broadband, indicating a critical national security gap that necessitates resolution.

The proposal is set for an initial vote on October 19 and also contemplates whether the FCC could restrict internet service providers from engaging in traffic exchange agreements with specific entities on national security grounds.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has previously criticized the FCC’s actions as an abuse of state power, refuting allegations against Chinese telecom operators. Huawei has consistently denied accusations of misconduct, asserting that the U.S. government has unfairly targeted the company.

The U.S. government’s actions against Chinese tech giants stem from concerns that these entities could be exploited by Beijing for espionage purposes. Washington has been urging its allies for years to refrain from using Huawei or ZTE equipment in 5G networks or to remove existing gear.

The FCC’s designation of Huawei and ZTE as security threats mandates U.S. carriers to remove their equipment or risk exclusion from an $8.3 billion government fund allocated for equipment replacement. However, Congress has only allocated $1.9 billion to fund this critical rip and replace effort.