A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Wednesday to help U.S. firms remove Chinese telecom equipment from companies like Huawei if it’s deemed a national security threat.
The legislation would require fifth generation, or 5G, wireless networks be free of equipment or services provided by Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE. It also would establish a “supply chain trust fund” program to help U.S. firms remove Huawei equipment from their networks.
The measure would require the establishment of an “interagency program,” led by the Department of Homeland Security, to share information with communications companies on risks and vulnerabilities of networks.
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The bill was introduced by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerSenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks Momentum grows to create ‘Do Not Track’ registry Senate Republicans running away from Alabama abortion law MORE (R-Miss.), Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerSenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks DOJ plans to show Senate Intel less-redacted Mueller report, filing shows Bipartisan House bill calls for strategy to protect 5G networks from foreign threats MORE (D-Va.) and Sen. Tom CottonThomas (Tom) Bryant CottonSenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks GOP senator: Supreme Court abortion cases were ‘wrongly decided as a constitutional matter’ Senate confirms controversial 9th Circuit pick without blue slips MORE (R-Ark.), with Sens. Ed MarkeyEdward (Ed) John MarkeySenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks Markey releases infrastructure suggestions that align with Green New Deal goals GOP senator announces bill to block companies from tracking online activity MORE (D-Mass.) and Dan SullivanDaniel Scott SullivanSenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks Senators introduce bill to prevent border agency from selling personal data Embattled senators fill coffers ahead of 2020 MORE (R-Alaska) as co-sponsors.
Wicker, whose committee has examined 5G security in the recent months, said in a statement that “5G networks need to be robust and secure, and not rely on equipment or services that pose a national security risk.”
Warner cited national security threats from Huawei and ZTE in highlighting the importance of the bill.
“While we’ve made enormous progress in educating the private sector of the dangers these vendors pose, we haven’t put in place policies to help resource-strapped rural carriers address and eliminate those risks,” he said in a statement. “This bill ensures that on a going-forward basis we don’t make the same mistakes in allowing companies subject to extra-judicial directions of a foreign adversary to infiltrate our nation’s communications networks.”
The bill is the latest piece of legislation introduced to secure 5G networks from potential Chinese threats, and comes a day after a bipartisan group of House members introduced a related measure that calls for the creation of a “national strategy” to protect 5G wireless networks from security threats. Rep. Abigail SpanbergerAbigail Davis SpanbergerSenators offer bipartisan bill to help US firms remove Huawei equipment from networks Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers seek ‘time out’ on facial recognition tech | DHS asks cybersecurity staff to volunteer for border help | Judge rules Qualcomm broke antitrust law | Bill calls for 5G national security strategy Bipartisan House bill calls for strategy to protect 5G networks from foreign threats MORE (D-Va.) is the bill’s the main sponsor.
President TrumpDonald John TrumpFeinstein, Iranian foreign minister had dinner amid tensions: report The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump says no legislation until Dems end probes Harris readies a Phase 2 as she seeks to rejuvenate campaign MORE last week signed an executive order banning U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment from any company deemed a national security risk.
The Commerce Department also formally added Huawei to its list of blacklisted trade groups last week, though it issued a temporary license on Monday allowing U.S. companies to have “limited engagements” with Huawei for 90 days.