Biden Signs Bill To Secure Telecoms Against National Security Threats

President Biden signed into law a bill that requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to secure telecommunications systems against potential foreign threats to national security. From a report: In recent years, lawmakers have increasingly voiced concerns about Chinese telecom giants’ operations in the U.S., and possible surveillance by the Chinese government. Under the new law, the FCC is barred from considering authorization for products made by companies on its “covered list,” which includes Huawei and ZTE. The designation blocks U.S. companies from using FCC funds to purchase communications equipment and services that the U.S. government considers a national security threat. The bill received near-unanimous support in Congress. It was sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.).