The FCC has issued two public notices soliciting comments in response to the Commission’s November 22, 2019 Report and Order, Order, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initially designating Huawei and ZTE as potential national security threats. Specifically, the Commission’s Report and Order published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2020 provisionally labeled Huawei and ZTE as “covered companies” that are likely risks to U.S. national security. Under other rules adopted in the same Report and Order, U.S. telecommunications companies will be barred from receiving USF funding if they acquire equipment and/or services from any entity that is formally designated as a covered company. These public notices are the next step in the FCC’s final designation process. Interested parties may file comments in response to one or both of the public notices. Comments are due on or before Monday, February 3, 2020.
