FCC Expands Ban on Chinese Telecom and Surveillance Equipment Over Cybersecurity Risks

The Federal Communications Commission has expanded its restrictions on certain Chinese telecommunications and video surveillance equipment, closing a regulatory gap that allowed older approved models to keep entering the U.S. market.

In a FCC public notice released on June 26, 2026, the agency said it will prohibit the continued importation and marketing of previously authorized covered communications equipment added to the Covered List in 2024 or earlier.

The decision affects equipment linked to companies previously identified as national security risks, including Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua. The June 26 notice says already purchased equipment can continue to be used, but affected products can no longer be imported or marketed once the prohibition takes effect.

What the FCC changed

The FCC had already blocked new equipment authorizations for covered products from listed companies. However, equipment that received approval before the earlier rules could still be sold or imported in some cases.

The agency addressed that gap through the EA Security Second Report and Order, which created a process to limit previously granted equipment authorizations without forcing users to stop operating devices they already own.

The latest action applies that process to covered equipment added to the list in 2024 or earlier. According to the Federal Register notice, the ban takes effect 10 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Item	Details
Agency	Federal Communications Commission
Action date	June 26, 2026
Main effect	Blocks further importation and marketing of affected previously authorized covered equipment
Covered scope	Equipment added to Covered List entries in 2024 or earlier
Current users	Users can continue operating legally purchased equipment
Not included in this action	Equipment added to the list after 2024, including certain UAS, UAS components, and routers

Which companies and products are affected

The action mainly targets telecommunications and video surveillance equipment tied to Chinese vendors already identified in U.S. supply chain security rules. Huawei and ZTE are among the most prominent affected telecom equipment makers.

For Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua, the restrictions are more use-based. The FCC says certain equipment is covered when used for public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes.

However, the agency temporarily suspended the part related to physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure until it adopts a formal definition of “critical infrastructure.” The Federal Register publication also confirms that the prohibition does not apply to equipment added to the Covered List after 2024.

• Telecommunications network equipment from affected vendors
• Video surveillance systems used in covered national security contexts
• Public safety communications equipment covered by FCC rules
• Security equipment used for government facilities
• Certain products tied to entities added to the list in 2024 or earlier

Why older approved devices became a concern

The FCC said older models can still create national security risks when they remain available for sale, even if they received approval before the newer restrictions took effect.

The agency said some older products may function similarly to newer banned products from the same vendors. Regulators also argued that allowing these devices to remain in the supply chain could extend risks across communications networks, surveillance systems, and critical infrastructure environments.

A Reuters report noted that the expanded ban builds on the FCC’s 2022 restrictions, which had focused on new models from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua.

What buyers and network operators should do

Businesses, distributors, public agencies, and network operators should review procurement plans before buying or importing affected equipment. The rule focuses on future importation and marketing, so compliance teams should check planned shipments, resale inventory, and vendor contracts.

Current users do not need to remove affected devices solely because of this action. Still, organizations should not treat continued operation as a sign that the equipment carries no risk.

Security teams should review existing deployments, check firmware support, disable unnecessary remote access, segment sensitive systems, and prioritize replacement of unsupported network or surveillance devices.

Organization type	Recommended response
Importers	Check whether incoming products fall under covered equipment entries before shipment
Retailers and distributors	Review inventory and marketing plans for affected models
Telecom providers	Audit network equipment and update replacement roadmaps
Government buyers	Confirm procurement rules exclude covered vendors and high-risk products
Security teams	Inventory devices, assess firmware status, and reduce exposure from legacy systems

Part of a wider U.S. supply chain crackdown

The FCC has steadily expanded its equipment authorization rules in response to concerns about foreign adversary access to communications infrastructure. The 2025 equipment authorization order created the mechanism used in the latest action.

The agency has also taken separate steps involving drones, routers, and other connected equipment. Reuters reported that the FCC has recently banned imports of new models of Chinese-made drones and consumer routers, while the latest order does not ban imports of prior drone and router models.

The Reuters report also said the FCC is considering further restrictions on U.S. telecom carriers interconnecting with Chinese telecom firms, which could limit their ability to operate through U.S. data centers.

Why the FCC ban matters

The new FCC restriction matters because it reduces the future supply of high-risk telecom and surveillance equipment into the U.S. market. It also removes a path that allowed older approved products from listed vendors to remain commercially available.

For cybersecurity teams, the practical takeaway is clear: older approval dates should not decide whether a device belongs in a sensitive network. Procurement, inventory management, firmware support, and vendor risk checks now matter even more.

The rule does not instantly remove every risky device from U.S. networks. However, it does make it harder for affected equipment to keep spreading through new purchases, resales, and imports.

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