US telecom agency: net neutrality rules to give control over Huawei and ZTE equipment in US networks

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US telecom watchdog, has recently offered to reinstate critical ‘net neutrality‘ rules repealed under the Trump administration.
The 129-page document calls for public comment on whether proposed rules preventing internet service providers from slowing down traffic or offering paid prioritisation for premium websites would give the FCC ‘more robust authority to require more entities to remove and replace covered Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services.’ Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC Chair, believes it could strengthen its power to force the removal of equipment from China-based Huawei and ZTE from US networks, including data centers and internet exchange infrastructure. The proposal also asks if the authority would include vetoing Chinese equipment in any US network infrastructure, including data centers and internet exchange infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

The US administration suspects that Beijing will use Chinese telecom companies to spy on Americans.
Last November, the FCC previously barred Huawei and ZTE, two giant Chinese tech companies, from any telecom equipment approvals, claiming they represented “an unacceptable risk” to US national security. The agency also identified Chinese telecom firms Pacific Networks and China Unicom as dangers to US national security under a 2019 law protecting communication infrastructure.
An initial vote on this recommendation is planned for 19 October. The FCC could also ban internet service providers from engaging in traffic peering and exchanges with certain companies for national security.
The move is seen as part of a broader geopolitical battle between the US and China over technology, trade, and national security.