FCC votes to ban all Chinese labs from certifying electronics sold in the US due to national security concerns — ruling would affect 75 percent of US-bound devices
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Image credit: Getty Images / NurPhoto
FCC vote to ban Chinese testing labs
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously on Thursday to advance a proposal that would strip every testing lab in China and Hong Kong of its ability to certify electronics for sale in the United States, according to a Reuters report.
Scope and impact
The FCC estimates that roughly 75 % of all U.S.-bound electronics are currently tested in Chinese facilities, a level the agency now considers a national security risk. FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the commission is pursuing actions to limit the interconnection capabilities of entities it considers security threats.
Affected facilities and cost differences
Twenty‑seven of the affected facilities are Chinese subsidiaries of major Western testing firms, including Intertek, SGS, TUV Rheinland, and Bureau Veritas. Those companies operate labs in the U.S., Europe, and Taiwan that can absorb redirected work, but the shift won’t be seamless. Basic FCC certification testing runs between $400 – $1,300 at Chinese labs, compared with $3,000 – $4,000 at U.S. equivalents.
Previous bans and related proposals
- The FCC already banned 15 state‑owned or government‑affiliated Chinese labs between September and February under its original “Bad Labs” order. Thursday’s vote extends that prohibition to all remaining labs in China, regardless of ownership.
- In a separate 3‑0 vote, the commission advanced a proposal to ban China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from operating data centers in the United States. The FCC had previously revoked those companies’ retail telecom licenses but had not addressed their wholesale and infrastructure operations.
- The new proposal would also consider banning U.S. carriers from interconnecting with any company on the FCC’s national security “Covered List” or any carrier using equipment from Huawei or ZTE.
Public comment period and broader FCC actions
Thursday’s vote opens a public comment period expected to last 60 to 90 days, followed by a final rule and transition period. The FCC has been steadily expanding its restrictions on Chinese technology, including: