Green Bay Reporter

House Select Members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently reached out to Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), seeking information concerning security issues related to Chinese cellular modules and their impact on American electronic devices. The Committee is particularly concerned about the risk to American Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

According to an Aug. 8 press release, Mike Gallagher, the Wisconsin Rep. and Chairman of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), teamed up with Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and the Ranking Member of the Committee to raise inquiries about the potential breach of national security caused by Chinese cellular modules in relation to American Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT devices encompass any gadgets that could potentially utilize the internet while in operation.

"Connectivity modules are used in a wide variety of devices throughout the U.S., from consumer ‘smart devices’, to electric cars, to U.S. telecom networks regulated by the FCC," said Gallagher, according to the press release. "Serving as the link between the device and the internet, these modules have the capacity both to brick the device and to access the data flowing from the device to the web server that runs each device. As a result, if the CCP can control the module, it may be able to effectively exfiltrate data or shut down the IoT device. This raises particularly grave concerns in the context of critical infrastructure and any type of sensitive data."

The lawmakers are seeking swift responses to inquiries concerning the national security risk posed by Chinese cellular modules, including questions whether the FCC, or other agencies with which it collaborates on national security issues, is able to track the presence of Quectel, Fibocom, and other cellular IoT modules provided by PRC-based companies in the U.S., whether the FCC shares concerns about the presence of PRC cellular IoT modules in U.S. networks and whether the FCC requires or desires further statutory authorities to combat the threat that PRC cellular IoT modules pose, among other questions similar in nature, according to the press release.

With a career spanning more than twenty years in communications policy, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel previously held the role of Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, according to her bio page on the FCC website. She has also been recognized as one of POLITICO's 50 Politicos to Watch and was featured in a profile by InStyle Magazine.