U.S. FCC expands ban on Chinese telecom equipment to legacy gear

On June 26, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules that will take effect next month, extending the 2022 import ban on Chinese telecommunications and video‑surveillance equipment to include older, legacy models. The expanded restrictions cover products from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, Dahua and other firms that the FCC says "continue to pose an unacceptable risk to national security." The rule closes a loophole that previously allowed the sale of equipment approved before the original ban; it prohibits future import and marketing of these older devices while allowing businesses that already own such gear to keep it for now.

Chinese manufacturers objected, with Hikvision describing the action as politically motivated and lacking statutory authority. The FCC emphasized that the measure is intended to protect U.S. core networks from foreign intrusion, adding to a series of recent steps aimed at limiting Chinese technology in critical infrastructure.

The policy impacts the import of a broad range of telecommunications and surveillance hardware, reinforcing the United States' ongoing effort to reduce perceived security risks from foreign‑origin equipment.