Chinese Labs Urge FCC to Reverse Course on Banning Them
Some Chinese testing labs are urging the FCC to reconsider its revocation of their recognition. The agency started proceedings in September to remove the recognition from some labs it said were controlled by the Chinese government (see 2509080058), and it denied recognition renewal applications for others (see 2509260036). In filings posted Friday, several argued that there's no ground for them to lose recognition.
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Revoking the recognition of Chinese state-owned labs isn't promoting international cooperation in the information and communications technology sector, said the lab of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CTTL). It will also end up hurting international trade, businesses and consumers, CTTL said. The lab “has never breached client trust, nor has there been any incident related to information security in our testing activities,” it added. “A Chinese state-owned laboratory operating under the rigorous [international testing lab quality standards] does not pose a threat to the national security of the United States.” The Chongqing Academy of Information and Communications Technology submitted a nearly identical letter.
While the state-owned China Certification & Inspection Group Co. (CCIC) is one of its parents, CCIC Ningbo argued that Germany’s TUV Rheinland has indirect control as the other part of the joint venture and holds the majority of shares and voting rights. CCIC “cannot pass any desired resolution [at shareholders’ meetings] without the cooperation of TR,” CCIC Ningbo said. It “therefore cannot be indirectly controlled” by the Chinese government. The lab noted that TUV appoints three of the company’s five board members, as well as its general manager and one of two vice general managers. "CCIC has no means of affecting decisions in any corporate decision-making body without the cooperation of TR and therefore cannot be seen as maintaining control."
CVC Testing Technology said it’s affiliated with a state-owned holding company, but its lab operations are independent, "and there is no circumstance where the testing activities are controlled or directed by any external entities.” Its FCC testing-related data is collected and analyzed independently by its lab, “and there is no data leakage or external directing.” CVC added that it’s in “strict accordance” with American Association for Laboratory Accreditation requirements. CVC’s Chenzhen operations submitted a nearly identical letter.