FCC Targets 'Covered List' Entities' Blanket Sec. 214 Authorizations

The Federal Communications Commission voted to launch a proceeding to block entities on the agency’s Covered List from receiving automatic authorization to provide domestic interstate telecommunications services in America and ask more broadly what other regulatory actions should be considered to further protect our nation’s telecommunications networks from entities that pose an unacceptable national security risk. The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, pursuant to the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, publishes the Covered List of communications equipment and services that are deemed to pose an unacceptable national security risk. Additions to the Covered List are made based on recommendations of Executive Branch national security agencies. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes banning Covered List entities from being granted blanket domestic operating authority under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934. A section 214 authorization is required for providing telecommunications services in the United States, and the Commission has granted the authorization on an automatic blanket basis to most domestic carriers seeking to offer service in the U.S. since 1999. This action proposes to strengthen national security by ending such authorization for all Covered List entities.