Senators Want Commerce to Help U.S. Firms Ditch ZTE
Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) say they strongly support the Commerce Department’s April “denial order” barring ZTE from buying U.S. technology components for seven years, but are concerned that the order itself is confusing, to the point of hindering the removal of ZTE gear from U.S. infrastructure.
They complain that the order’s prohibition on “servicing” ZTE equipment “has created uncertainty” over whether U.S. telecom operators can replace that equipment with products from other suppliers. They’ve called on Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to issue guidance and waivers to clarify the requirements.
