Live data from Hacker News

FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

fcc.gov

71–80 of 242 posts

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#71

Is it just me, or does the full "report and order" spend way, way too much time responding to the comments of various telecom companies and trade groups? The tone seems far too deferential, as if they're apologizing to the industry they're trying to regulate.

It is a good thing to have a government that is responsive and explanatory in its application of the law.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would rather Amazon focus on elimination of Counterfeits and Fraud, not enforcement of FCC protectionism

well, yes and no. Amazon most definitely has a counterfeit/stolen goods problem that they are deliberately (from outside perspectives) not doing anything about. however, if a "legit" vendor is selling devices that does not meet local regulations and it is known by the seller this is true, then the seller has blame as well.

And also the seller cannot just say "oopsie I didn't know". Well, they must make an effort to "know your customer", instead of "better not ask".

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#73
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We need open and verifiable firmware, at the very least, to be able to trust anything. How? Even ignoring ASICs, I just don't see how it's possible. Even if you had no binary blobs anywhere (we are already in the wonderland), with process for turning source to binary, you need to trust compiler, cpu, flashing hardware and software and the whole lot of other things. And that's all ignoring the fact that hiding bad s…

> with process for turning source to binary, you need to trust compiler, cpu, flashing hardware and software and the whole lot of other things. "We should not solve this solvable problem because other problems exist" is false. Meanwhile the other problems have solutions, like reproducible builds, so that the attacker not only has to compromise your compiler/CPU/hardware, they also have to compromise any others the ou…

> "We should not solve this solvable problem because other problems exist" is false.

Without commenting on the truthiness of the comment you are replying to, you have constructed a strawman argument here. They weren't saying that the problem shouldn't be solved because other problems exist, rather that it might not be solvable b/c of so and so obstacles that don't seem to have a solution.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#74

Is it just me, or does the full "report and order" spend way, way too much time responding to the comments of various telecom companies and trade groups? The tone seems far too deferential, as if they're apologizing to the industry they're trying to regulate.

In “notice and comment” informal rule making under the Administrative Procedure Act, it’s standard for agencies to review the submitted comments in the final rule, to show that the data, views, and arguments of interested parties were considered as the law (5 U.S.C. § 553(c)) requires.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#75

In reality, Chinese manufactures will just ignore FCC licensing requirements. A good amount of cheap Chinese electronics on Amazon are already unlicensed, so I doubt any new changes will affect them. Online marketplaces like Amazon really need to crack down on products and make sure they are properly licensed.

I would rather Amazon focus on elimination of Counterfeits and Fraud, not enforcement of FCC protectionism

I'd rather live in a society where businesses follow the law - and if the laws don't make sense - we change them.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#76

Based on the actual news release[1], this is the FCC's formal statement of rules for compliance with the Secure Equipment Act of 2021[2]. [1]: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-389524A1.pdf [2]: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3919

Thanks for connecting the dots, I was doing this research before I found your comment. I knew I had searched for covered telecom equipment last year. Also, I didn't know the covered list was being updated. Does anyone know what AO Kaspersky is? Is that the official corporate name for the anti-virus Kaspersky?

The prefix “AO” in the name of a Russian business entity is like the suffix “Co.” in English; it’s an abbreviation for aktsionernoye obshchestvo (акционерное общество), joint-stock company.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#77
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not saying there isn't lobbying efforts underway, but trying to limit Chinese-based video and audio equipment that's unaccountable to US laws or oversite from government locations seems like a reasonable thing to do. Dahua and Hikvision have a long history of backdoors. Many of these things chat like crazy to servers in China if not firewalled properly.

I'm not sure how to tell you this but if your CCTV cameras can get to the internet you've done so many things so completely wrong that you just ought to stop doing whatever it is you're doing. Though the argument is more fair in relation to their DVR/VMS products, but it's difficult to see a reason to use those as better alternatives running on your own hardware exist. As a gov't installation your worries are differe…

Tell that to non technical businesspeople deploying shorty Chinese cameras.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#78

In reality, Chinese manufactures will just ignore FCC licensing requirements. A good amount of cheap Chinese electronics on Amazon are already unlicensed, so I doubt any new changes will affect them. Online marketplaces like Amazon really need to crack down on products and make sure they are properly licensed.

Maybe someone should crack down on Amazon for allowing these sales to continue seemingly unabated.

Re: FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat

#79
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ledger wallets connect to your phone over Bluetooth, so they would ostensibly need the FCC to ok them.

Would the FCC ok the entire wallet or just the Bluetooth chip it's using?

Entire wallet, even if you change the plastic cover you need to go through FCC again.
Post reply on HN