CARR APPLAUDS SENATE COMMERCE PASSAGE OF SECURE EQUIPMENT ACT
Legislation Would Strengthen America’s National Security, Close “Huawei Loophole”

WASHINGTON, August 4, 2021—Today, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr applauded the Senate Commerce Committee’s passage of the Secure Equipment Act of 2021.  The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Ed Markey, would strengthen national security by requiring the FCC to update its equipment authorization procedures to protect against threats posed by entities on the Covered List.  In March, Carr called on the FCC to take this step, and the Commission launched a proceeding in June to seek comment on the idea. 
“I applaud Senator Rubio and Senator Markey for their leadership and work to secure America’s communications networks.  Their legislation would help ensure that insecure gear from companies like Huawei, ZTE, and other Chinese state-backed entities can no longer be inserted into America’s communications infrastructure.  This gear poses an unacceptable risk to our national security, and their bipartisan legislation would ensure that the FCC closes the loophole being used today by Huawei and others on the Covered List to be a part of our networks.  I am very pleased that this legislation has advanced out of Committee and look forward to its consideration by the full Senate.” 
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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Greg Watson
(202) 418-0658 or greg.watson@fcc.gov