Relations between the US and China, especially where tech is concerned, is shaky to say the least. And it looks like another wrinkle is being added into the mix. The former’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a ban on the use of tech from the latter in undersea cables that connect to the US.
In its official statement, FCC chairman Brendan Carr says that “we have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China”. The move to ban Chinese tech in cables that connect to the US is noted as action “to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership and access as well as cyber and physical threats”.
More specifically, the ban would prevent Chinese companies from receiving a license to build or operate undersea cables that connect to the US. Limiting the influence of such is claimed to be an attempt to benefit US cable providers in addition to hurting the country’s perceived enemies.
The policy won’t be going into effect immediately though. The FCC will first have to vote on the rules that would enforce the ban. This is scheduled for 7 August. During the meeting of the vote, the commission will also be seeking “comment on various additional measures to protect submarine cable security against foreign adversary equipment and services”.
(Source: FCC [PDF])
