Pallone & Guthrie Introduce Legislation to Improve the Process for Adding Tech and Telecom Equipment to the FCC’s Covered List
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) have introduced new bipartisan legislation to update and improve the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019.
Their bill – the Communications and Technology Transparency Act – expands the types of malicious technology and equipment from foreign adversaries that can be added to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Covered List, streamlines the process for barring these products and services from coming into the United States, and clarifies the method for determining what is considered malicious technology or equipment. These changes improve consistency and transparency around the FCC Covered List, ensuring that it targets foreign adversaries and is used as Congress intended to safeguard our national security.
“The current process for identifying and barring malicious foreign technology has worked in many cases, but lacks the transparency, consistency, and clarity needed to meet our long-term national security needs as technology rapidly advances. Having learned important lessons since the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act was signed into law, it’s time for Congress to address these discrepancies and ensure there are no gaps in how we deal with our foreign adversaries or the telecom equipment they develop and control,” said Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone. “Every day our adversaries are relentless in their attempts to breach our communications networks, and every day those efforts become increasingly sophisticated. This bill meets that challenge, builds on our past efforts, and creates an enduring and transparent process for safeguarding and securing America’s communications networks.”
The bipartisan Communications and Technology Transparency Act:
- Stipulates that technology or equipment which has been deemed malicious by Congress or the Department of Commerce, in consultation with our national security agencies, may be added to the FCC’s Covered List;
- Clarifies that equipment manufactured from one of four adversarial nations – China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran – is eligible for inclusion on the FCC’s Covered List;
- Ensures that entities on the FCC’s Covered List and their affiliate(s) are barred from receiving an FCC license, authorization, or any other grant of authority issued by the FCC; and
- Enhances congressional oversight of certain additions and removals to the Covered List.
A section-by-section is available HERE.
Bill text is available HERE.
