US FCC to vote on tougher rules targeting Chinese telecom equipment

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote later this month on proposals that would significantly tighten restrictions on Chinese-made telecommunications equipment, expanding national security measures that already target Huawei and ZTE in US networks.

The proposals under consideration on October 28 2025 would allow the FCC to revoke authorisations already granted to telecom and connected-device equipment if it is found to include components from companies on the FCC’s “Covered List”.

They would also impose stricter supply-chain disclosure obligations and give the regulator power to block new devices containing high-risk parts. “We can’t let companies end-run our national security safeguards by repackaging banned equipment under different brands,” said FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.

July’s subsea cable push: “Rip and Replace 2.0”

The October vote follows earlier moves by the FCC, notably those announced in July, aimed specifically at submarine cables. In that month, FCC Chair Brendan Carr revealed plans to tighten oversight of subsea cable systems that use gear from Chinese firms such as Huawei and ZTE.

Carr argued that these cables carry “99 % of all internet traffic” and must be protected against ownership, access, and cyber/physical threats from foreign adversaries.

The proposal was framed as akin to a “Rip and Replace 2.0” campaign: a successor to prior efforts to remove Chinese equipment from mobile and wireless infrastructure.

Key challenges

Industry analysts warn that implementing the subsea rip-and-replace initiative could be complex and costly. Key questions include how many existing submarine routes actually rely on Huawei or ZTE gear, or whether certain routes are entirely dependent on Chinese components.

Funding for prior “rip and replace” efforts in the wireless sphere has been challenging, though the FCC secured $3.08bn in fresh funding in December to help cover those costs.

Taken together, the recent proposals and July’s subsea policy moves indicate a clear shift in FCC strategy, from preventive controls (blocking equipment at import and certification stages) to retrospective enforcement and removal of suspect technology from existing networks. The authority to revoke past approvals is especially significant.

For affected equipment manufacturers and operators, the evolving rules signal elevated compliance burdens and potentially large retrofit or replacement costs. On the flip side, US-based or “trusted” suppliers of telecom and subsea infrastructure may find new opportunities in markets seeking to move away from Chinese components.

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