Washington D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled a new proposed rule aimed at significantly bolstering the security and integrity of the nation's telecommunications equipment supply chain. The initiative, titled "Promoting the Integrity and Security of Telecommunications Certification Bodies, Measurement Facilities, and the Equipment Authorization Program," seeks public input on a range of measures designed to safeguard the FCC's critical equipment authorization program.
At the heart of the proposed rule are expanded prohibitions targeting entities subject to the jurisdiction of a foreign adversary or those raising national security concerns. The FCC is particularly interested in incorporating existing federal agency blacklists, such as those from the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PFACA) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), into its definition of "prohibited entity."
Beyond restricting problematic actors, the FCC is exploring avenues to boost domestic equipment authorization testing and certification. This includes examining potential incentives and strategies to reduce regulatory hurdles for U.S.-based Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCBs) and test laboratories. The move signals a clear intent to strengthen the domestic capacity for securing telecommunications infrastructure.
Furthermore, the proposed rule considers crucial revisions to post-market surveillance procedures for TCBs, aiming to enhance the identification of non-compliant equipment in the market. The FCC is also seeking comments on a potential requirement for all equipment authorized under the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) procedure to undergo testing at an accredited and FCC-recognized laboratory.
The comprehensive set of proposals underscores the FCC's commitment to fortifying the security of the U.S. equipment supply chain against potential threats and ensuring the integrity of telecommunications services nationwide.
Public comments on this important proposal are due by August 15, 2025. A period for reply comments will follow, with a deadline of September 15, 2025.
Interested parties can submit their comments electronically through the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Alternatively, comments can also be submitted via Regulations.gov by navigating to the document with Document Number 2025-13308.
For more information, the full publication can be accessed on the Federal Register: Promoting the Integrity and Security of Telecommunications Certification Bodies, Measurement Facilities, and the Equipment Authorization Program.
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FR Document: 2025-13308 |
