FCC flags Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky as a risk to national security
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has deemed all products and services from the Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky an "unacceptable risk to national security."
According to the FCC's release, the move comes in an effort to uphold 2019's Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which requires the agency to publish a list that details any communications equipment or services which may present a risk to national security.
The FCC published its so-called "Covered List" for the first time in March 2021, when it named Chinese companies Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications, Hikvision, and Dahua. With this year's update, the full list only names eight companies that pose such risk, and Kaspersky is the only one based in Russia. The company's inclusion on the list means it is banned from receiving support from the FCC's Universal Service Fund. According to Reuters, the $8 billion fund is used to maintain communications services in rural areas and for low income users and facilities.
