FCC Bans "Bad Labs" Connected To Foreign Adversaries, Seeks Comment On Additional Restrictions For Equipment Authorization Program

Continuing its efforts under Chairman Brendan Carr's leadership to safeguard United States communications infrastructure from foreign threats, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted an Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in its "Bad Labs" proceeding, which seeks to limit national security risks in the FCC's equipment authorization program. The Order prohibits entities with certain connections to foreign adversaries from participating in the FCC's equipment authorization program as telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs), test labs, or laboratory accreditation bodies. The FNPRM seeks comment on additional proposed rules that would expand the list of prohibited entities and impose new post-market surveillance requirements.