FCC set to rescind cyber rules after Salt Typhoon hack
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is preparing to vote on reversing cybersecurity requirements for telecom operators that were introduced after the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign, sparking concern among lawmakers about national security implications.
The FCC is scheduled this week to vote on rescinding rules imposed in January that required major telecommunications carriers to secure networks from unauthorised access and interception under Section 105 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act.
These measures were introduced after the Salt Typhoon cyber-espionage campaign exposed vulnerabilities in US telecom infrastructure.
Current FCC Chair Brendan Carr argues the prior policy exceeded the agency’s legal authority and did not offer flexible or targeted protections. The proposed reversal follows lobbying by major carriers who claim the rules could undermine partnership efforts between public and private sectors.
Lawmakers, including Maria Cantwell, ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, have strongly opposed the move. They describe the Salt Typhoon campaign, attributed to Chinese-linked actors targeting numerous US carriers, as one of the most serious telecom breaches in US history, emphasising that loosening these rules could undermine national security.
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