The Conflict Is Still Going On Between Huawei And The United States

The bill, which awaits President Trump’s signature, also prohibits telcos from using Federal Communications Commission funding to get Huawei or ZTE equipment.

But the Congressional action is essentially duplicative because the FCC had already approved a ban.
The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act was approved in voice votes by the House in December and by the Senate yesterday.

It doesn’t mention Huawei or ZTE by name but says the FCC must produce an inventory of kit providers « posing national security risks » and prohibits ISPs and phone companies from using FCC funding to get, rent, lease, or maintain equipment and services made by those companies.
Specifically, the bill directs the FCC to make a $1 billion reimbursement fund for ISPs that have 2 million or fewer customers.

The funding would be used for « permanently removing, » « replacing, » and « disposing » Huawei or ZTE gear and equipment from any providers added to the prohibited list within the future.

The FCC was already seeking public discussion on the way to buy removal and replacement of kit but hadn’t created a fund.
The passage of this legislation comes at a critical time, » the agricultural Wireless Association, a trade group that represents small ISPs, said yesterday.

Without this significant funding, rural carriers would lack the financial means to effectuate rapid replacement of the banned equipment. »
Democratic and Republican members of the House Commerce Committee also praised the Senate action, saying, « The existence of Huawei’s technology in our networks represents an immense threat to America’s national and economic security.
Huawei fires back points to US’ history of spying on phone networks
Huawei in December sued the FCC in an effort to prevent the ban, but a US District Court judge ruled in favor of the FCC.
US government officials recently said they need « evidence that Huawei has the potential secretly to access sensitive and private information in systems it maintains and sells around the world.

But they haven’t made that evidence public, and Huawei said it « has never and can never covertly access telecom networks, nor can we have the potential to try to so.