The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday formally denied the request by Chinese telecommunications group ZTE to remove the agency\u2019s designation of the company as a national security threat.<\/p>\n
The denial comes months after the FCC formally designated both ZTE and Chinese telecom group Huawei as national security threats, and banned U.S. groups from using funds from the FCC\u2019s $8.3 billion Universal Service Fund to purchase equipment from either group. Huawei is currently in the middle of a\u00a0legal battle<\/a>\u00a0disputing the designation.<\/p>\n \u201cWith today\u2019s order, we are taking another important step in our ongoing efforts to protect U.S. communications networks from security risks,\u201d FCC Chairman\u00a0Ajit Pai<\/a>\u00a0said in a statement.<\/p>\n Pai noted that the agency will vote next month on rules to implement a reimbursement program created by legislation\u00a0signed into law<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0President Trump<\/a>\u00a0earlier this year. The program would provide funds for smaller U.S. telecom groups to rip out and replace suspicious equipment, with companies banned from using federal funds to purchase equipment from Huawei and ZTE.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it is more vital than ever that Congress appropriate funds so that our communications networks are protected from vendors that threaten our national security,\u201d Pai said.<\/p>\n