The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that will now prevent the government from using funds to help carriers buy Huawei’s telecommunications equipment. Along with that, other equipment considered to be a threat to national security is also banned under the draft ‘Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act’.
Commenting on this, Frank Pallone Jr., Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, Ranking Member Greg Walden, Reps. Doris Matsui, and Brett Guthrie said that the move is critical to protect America’s wireless networks from “malicious foreign interference”.
They also added that “companies like Huawei and its affiliates pose a significant threat to America’s commercial and security interests because a lot of communications providers rely heavily on their equipment.”
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The legislation now faces a vote from the Senate. As said, when passed, it will prevent the Federal Communications Commission from providing funds to carriers to purchase the equipment from Huawei. It also requires the government to help smaller carriers rip out any “suspect network equipment” and will also see the government share supply chain security information with carriers.
Huawei, the Chinese giant and the world’s leading telecommunication equipment maker, was blacklisted in May when the company was added to the United States’ “entity list”.
In addition to adding Huawei to the list, US President Donald Trump at the same time signed an executive order essentially banning the company due to national security concerns that Huawei had close ties with the Chinese government. However, no proof was provided to back the claim and Huawei has repeatedly denied that charge.
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