First Enforcement Action Under New Component Rules
The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) took action to prevent two devices—a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter—from being marketed or sold in the United States. The decision marks the agency's first enforcement action under rules that prohibit equipment authorizations for devices incorporating logic-bearing component parts from entities on the Covered List.
The OET determined that both device models contained a foreign chip manufactured by HiSilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei. HiSilicon markets the chip as being designed for the surveillance market, featuring built-in detection algorithms for human faces.
- Affected hardware includes a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter.
- The blocked hardware incorporated components produced by HiSilicon, a Huawei subsidiary on the FCC Covered List.
- The action represents the first application of the Commission's updated component part rules since they took effect.
Background on Equipment Authorization and Component Rules
Under FCC regulations, most electronic devices must obtain an equipment authorization before they can be imported, marketed, or sold in the United States. While the Commission has long prohibited equipment produced directly by Covered List entities from obtaining authorizations, prior rules did not prohibit otherwise lawful devices from incorporating component parts manufactured by those entities.
Earlier this year, the FCC adopted rules to close this loophole. The updated regulations prohibit the authorization of any device that incorporates logic-bearing, or 'smart,' hardware components produced by a Covered List entity if the entity's complete device would have been barred from authorization. These component-level rules officially took effect on October 13.
- Prior framework barred end-user equipment produced directly by Covered List entities.
- New regulations extend the prohibition to logic-bearing 'smart' components produced by Covered List entities.
- The updated component rules officially took effect on October 13.
Commission Statement on National Security and Enforcement
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr underscored the agency's focus on national security risks associated with video equipment and foreign semiconductor components.
Carr stated: 'The FCC will continue to act with vigilance in protecting and promoting America’s national security. Video devices containing surveillance chips produced by Covered List entities pose an obvious and unacceptable risk to the nation and our people. I applaud the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology for their work and for preventing this potential spyware from obtaining the approvals necessary for marketing and sale in the U.S. We will continue to act aggressively to enforce our rules and secure American networks.'
- The FCC affirmed it will continue active enforcement of Covered List component part prohibitions.