US Agency Probes Risks Of Foreign Satellite Use By Handheld Devices
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is scrutinizing whether smartphones and other devices in the U.S. relying on Russian and Chinese satellite signals may pose national security concerns.
Specifically, the FCC is questioning if receiving and processing such signals contravenes its regulations.
Key handset manufacturers, including Apple, Google, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung—dominating more than 90% of America's smartphone sector—are being queried by the FCC, but have yet to remark publicly.
An FCC official highlighted the absence of concrete evidence regarding potential security threats from these foreign satellite signals, and whether device makers are violating FCC rules in their handling of them.
The issue was recently brought to the fore by Representative Mike Gallagher, who expressed apprehensions about U.S. cell phones interacting with Russian and Chinese satellite systems. He highlighted the recent signal disruptions in Eastern Europe as a reason to strictly enforce FCC rules against using signals from unauthorized foreign satellites.
Currently, FCC authorization extends only to the domestic GPS and the European Galileo system. Findings from 2018 by FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged that many U.S. phones were already equipped to operate with other international systems.
The commission is investigating to ascertain device compliance with its regulations and to better understand the potential vulnerabilities in how these foreign GNSS signals are processed.
Key handset manufacturers, including Apple, Google, Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung—dominating more than 90% of America's smartphone sector—are being queried by the FCC, but have yet to remark publicly.
An FCC official highlighted the absence of concrete evidence regarding potential security threats from these foreign satellite signals, and whether device makers are violating FCC rules in their handling of them.
The issue was recently brought to the fore by Representative Mike Gallagher, who expressed apprehensions about U.S. cell phones interacting with Russian and Chinese satellite systems. He highlighted the recent signal disruptions in Eastern Europe as a reason to strictly enforce FCC rules against using signals from unauthorized foreign satellites.
Currently, FCC authorization extends only to the domestic GPS and the European Galileo system. Findings from 2018 by FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged that many U.S. phones were already equipped to operate with other international systems.
The commission is investigating to ascertain device compliance with its regulations and to better understand the potential vulnerabilities in how these foreign GNSS signals are processed.
