Rep. Ashley Hinson Questions FCC Chair Carr on Communications Infrastructure Security

Strengthening Communications Infrastructure

• 💡 Rep. Ashley Hinson questioned FCC Chair Brendan Carr on efforts to secure U.S. communications infrastructure.
• 🎯 The discussion focused on the rip and replace program, fully funded last December, with funds beginning to flow in April.

National Security and CCP Threats

• 🚀 The rip and replace program is crucial for national security, addressing risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including threats from companies like Huawei and ZTE.
• ⚠️ Carr noted that 28% of the program is complete, with an expected completion in about a year, and expressed confidence in meeting targets after a previous funding shortfall was resolved.
• 🌐 The threat from foreign adversaries, particularly the CCP, is multifaceted, extending beyond a single technology vector, necessitating vigilance across all technological areas.

FCC Actions Beyond Rip and Replace

• 🔒 The FCC is implementing new measures for its equipment authorization process, moving beyond technical reviews to include national security checks.
• 🛠️ A new standard will be voted on to ensure that labs performing device testing are trustworthy and not beholden to foreign adversaries.
• 🚫 This includes actions like removing Huawei labs from the FCC-approved process due to ties with the PLA or CCP.

Transparency and Inter-Agency Collaboration

• 📊 The FCC is voting on an initiative similar to the FACT Act to bring greater transparency by publicizing a list of entities with FCC authorizations that have concerning ties to China or foreign adversaries.
• 🤝 Hinson emphasized the importance of congruency between agencies, suggesting that if the DoD has a company on its blacklist, the FCC should be equally wary.