Hikvision Unredacted FCC Compliance Plan Examined
For more than a year, and still ongoing, Hikvision has been banned by the FCC from authorizing new products, an increasing problem. After losing a lawsuit against the US government on this issue, Hikvision's best chance of obtaining new authorizations is for the FCC to approve its prohibited purposes plan. Now, Hikvision has submitted a public, unredacted proposal.
Will the FCC accept it? What changes should be considered? How will this impact Hikvison USA sales and its partners, most notably mega-distributor ADI (see ADI And Hikvision USA Tout "Stronger Together")?
In this report, we examine the plan and these questions.
Related, Dahua has taken a different route more recently; see Dahua USA / Luminys Pitch Future Plan To FCC and Dahua Selling Off US Branded Business, Impact On FCC And NDAA Bans.
Executive *******
** ********, *** **** ***** ******* distributors *** **** ** ***** ******** and ****** ********* ***********, ******** ********* compliance ******* *** ********* **** ** re-consider ******* **** ********* (****'* ********* *** **************** ***** **** *****). *******, ***** is ** ***** *********** *** ************ to **** ****** ***********, ******** ***** of ***-**********.
*********'* **** ******** *********** *** ********** purposes, ********* "****** ******," "********** **********," "national ******** ********," *** "******** **************," but *** *********** ***** ******** *** to ***** ****** ***** - *** instance, "****** ******" *** ******* ******* and "********** **********" *** ******* ****** stations *** *******.
** * ******** ****** ************ *** compliance ****, ********* ****** **** **** devices ********* ******** *** ************ ****** fall ***** *** ***'* ***, ********* those ****** ******** **** *******. **** is *** *** ***** **** ********* has **** **** ** ********, *** the *** ** ******** ** ****** its ****. *** *** ***** ********* as * ****** ** ** ******** security *** ** ******** ** ***** out ******** ********* ********.
**********
********* ***, *** *** ***** ****, filed ** ********** ******* ** *** FCC ********** ****. *** ******** *******,********* ** *** *** ** ****** 2023, *** ******** ********. ********* *** not ******* *** ** ******* ******.
************* **** **** *** ********* ** submit ** ********** ******* ** *** plan, ******* **** *** ***** ** would:
******* ******** ******** ** *** *********** and ******** ** **** *****, ****** the **********’* ***** ***** **** *******, and ********* ********** ****** ******** ** the *****’ ********
***** ********* ******** ****** **** ****, initially ****** *** **** ************** ****** submitting** ********** ******* ** ********* ****.
Labeling ************
********* ******** ******** *** ********* ***** to *** ******* *********:
********* ******** *** ********* ************ ********* the *** ** *** ******:
*** *** *********** ***** ***** *** clearly ******* ****, ** ** * sufficient **** ** ** ****** ********, and ******* ** * ********* ******** on *** ******* ********* ****** ***/** the ********* ** *** ******* *********. The *** *********** ***** ***** **** be ******** ** *** ******* *********’* product/user ******* *** *** *********** ***** describing *** ******* *********.
************ *** **** ******* ** **** requirement, ***** ** ******* ******* *****.
Prohibits ********* ** ********** ********
*** **** **** **** ********* *** not "******[*], ********[*], ** ******[*] **** the ******* ********* *** ** **** for * ********** *******." *** ********, advertisements ****** *** *******:
• ****** ** ******* ********* ********* at ** **** * ****** ****** military ****.
• ****** ** ** ******* ** train ******* ** ********** ** ********* that *** ** ********* ** ******* Equipment.
• ******** ********** **** ******* ********* can ******* ******** *** ********** *** law *********** ********.
Distributors ******* ** *********/******** ******, ** ***** ****** ********** ***********
************ *** ******* ** *** ******** and ********* ************ **** *** *****. They **** ***** *** ******* ********* equipment, *** **** *** ****** ********* products *** ********** ********.
**** *** **** ******** ** **** the ********* ***********:
*********** ******* **** ** *** ******** and ****** ** ****** **** *********’* Sales ****** ********** ** [***]. *********** understands **** ** *** ***, *** agrees **** ** **** ***, ******, import, ****, ** ********** ********* ********* in ********* ** *********’* ***** ******. DISTRIBUTOR ***** ****** **** *** ********, sales *****, ** ***** ***** ** sale ******* *********** *** *** ***** in *** ****** ****** ** ******* Equipment **** ******* * ********* *********** the *** ** **** ********* *** a ********** ******* ** ******* ** HIKVISION’s ***** ****** *** ********* **** such ***** **** ****** **** **** policy. *********** ******* **** ** **** refuse ** **** ******* ********* ** any ***** *** **** *** ****** such *********.
*******, ***** ** ** ***** *********** for ****** ***********. ********* ****** ******* distributors ** *** ***** ******* ** online ********* ******** **** *** ******** may *** ** **** *** ********** purposes. *** ***** ** ***** ***-********** and ********** *********.
*******, *** **** **** ******** *** following *** ********** *****:
****reasonable *********** to communicate and enforce the Sales Policy to their Customers that are not end users [emphasis added]
**** ******** ** *** ****** ******. Distributors ****** ************ "*********** *** *******" *** ****** to ********** *******, *** ****** **** "reasonable ***********" ** ** **.
****, *** **** **** *** ******* set *** *** ********* **** ****** or ******** ************ *** ***-**********. *** plan ****:
********* *** ****** ********** *********** ** compliance **********, ******* *** ************ ******* to ********* *** *********** *********** *** the *************, ********* *** ************ *******’* contract **** *********,or *** ***** ******* ********* ***** ***********. [emphasis added]
** ***** *** **** "**," ********* gives ****** *** **** ********** ** decide *** ** ****** ********** - especially **** *** ** *** ******* being "*** ***** ******* ********* ***** appropriate." *** ******* ****** *** * more ******** ******.
OEMs *******
**** *** ******* ** *** ****, under *** ********** ** "******* *********":
(**) ******** ********* ************* (“****”) **** purchase ** ******* ******* ********* ******** from * ******* ****** ** * Covered ******’* ******** *** *******, *******, sells, ** *********** **** ******* ********* in *** ****** ******.
***** *** ****, **** ******:
******, ******, ****, ** ********** ******* Equipment ** *** ****** ****** *** any ** *** ********** ********
**** *** **** ******** ** "****** that" *** ***** ********** ********** *** is ******* ** ********, *** ** "not ******, ******, ** ** *** way *******" *** *****.
**** ******* **** * ****** ********** to *** ******** *** ****'** ****** from, ** ***** ************ *** **** a *********** ****** ** ***** ******** to *** *********.
Hikvision ******* ********** ********
****** ************** **** ********* ******** *** *** be ******** ** **** ***:
*** ******* ** ****** ******, ******** of ********** **********, ******** ************ ** critical **************, ** ***** ******** ******** purpose
*********'* **** ******* *** **** *****.
** ******* "****** ******" **:
*** ********* ******** ******** ** *******, state, ***** ** ****** ************ ********, or ** * ******* ********** ** behalf ** **** ********:
- *** *********** *** ***** ******* ********;
- ********* *** ***** ********* ******** (*.*., firefighting, ********* ******* ********); ***
- ************ ******** ******** ******** ** ********** facilities *** ***** ******** **************.
**** ********** **** *** ******* ****** to *******, ***** *** ** *** not ******* ** "***** *******" ** "law ***********" ********.
*** **** ******* "********** **********" **:
(*) ********** ********* ** ********** **** are **** ** *** ****** *** (ii)government ********* ** ********** **** *** *** **** ** *** ****** *** ******* ****** ********* ***********, *********, *********, ***/** *********. Government Facilities include both physical structures and cyber elements—such as access control systems and closed-circuit television systems—that help protect Government Facility assets. Government Facilities include buildings located in the United States and overseas. For purposes of this policy, Government Facilities are:
- ********* ***** ** ****** ** *******, state, *****, ** ****** *********** *** governmental ************** *********;
- *******-*** ****** ********* **** ** ***********;
- *******-*** ******** ************* **** ** ******** bases *** *******;
- ****** ****** ********* *** **********;
- ***********; ***
- ******** ************ [******** *****]
**** ********** ** *** ******. ***** is ** ****** ** ******* ***-****** government ********* **** ** *** "******* highly ********* ***********, *********, *********, ***/** equipment."************* ********* ****** ** ******* ** FCC ***********. *** ********** *** ******* schools, *** ******* **** ****** ******** - ** ** ********* ******* ****** is "**** ** *** ******" ** "contain ****** ********* ***********," *** ******* is ******** ** *** **** ** "government **********" ***** ** *** *** of *** ******. **** ****** ********* be ******* ** *** ********** ******** plan.
*** **** **** **** "******** ******** purposes" ********:
******** ***** *** *************;
******* ********** ************* **********; ***
****** ****** ********* *** **********.
*** **** **** ******** * ******** definition ** ******** **************, ***** ** will ******* ******* ** * *********** report.
Definition ** "******* *********"
*** ********** **** ******* "******* *********" as:
*** ************* ** "*********" ** "******" speeds ** "******* ** *******" ***** from*** *** *****, ***** ********* ****:
*** ********** *********** “******** ************** *******” for ******** ** *** ****** ******** Act ** ******* ******** **** *** connection ** ** ***** *** **** in ****** *********
Website ***********
********* ***** ** ******* *** ********* disclosure ** *********** ** *** ** *******:
*** *********, ***********, ****, *** ************ in *** ****** ****** ** ******* Hikvision ********* *** ****** ******, ******** of ********** **********, ******** ******** ************ of ******** **************, *** ***** ******** security ******** *** ** ******* ** U.S. ********** ************. *** **** *********** visit [***].
*** ** ******* **** **** ******* a ******* **** "**** ********* *** FCC's *** ************":
** ********, ********* ***** ******* *** maintain ** *** ****** ****** ******* a ******* **** **** ********* *** FCC’s *** ************ *** * **** of *** ******* ********* ******* ** these ************. ********* ***** ****** *** landing **** ** ********* ******** *** updated ** ********** **** *** ********** regulatory *******
********* **** *** *** ********* ********** to *** ******** ** *** *** website:
**** ******* **** *** ***** *** availability ** *** ** ********* ******** in *** ****** ******. *** **** information ** ***** ******** *** *** restrictions ** ***** *** ** *** United ******, ***** [***]
Plan ******** *****
********* ************* ****** ** ******** ****** **** Ezviz, *** *** **** ******* ***** that ***** ** ** "********[*] ** subsidiar[y] ** *********":
**** ** ******* **** - ***, for ********,********* ** ******* ***** ****-***, **** Buying **% ** ***- ** *** ********** *** ********** would **** **** ****** *****.
Argues **** **** ******* "******** *** **** *** ************" ****** ** *******
** ******* ************ *** ********** ****, ********* ****** **** **** "******* that *** ******** ******** *** **** for************" (******** ** ********), *** "*** merely *** ****** **** *** * camera," ****** ** ******* ** *** ban:
*** ***** ********* ***** **** *** Covered **** ** ******* ** ********* “video ************” *** “******************” ********* **** to *** ****** ** ** “‘**** for *** ******* ** ****** ******, security ** ********** **********, ******** ******** surveillance ** ******** **************, *** ***** national ******** ********.’” ... ***********, ** Hikvision *** ********** *********, “*** **** ‘video ************ *********’ ****** **** ********* devices **** *** ******** ******** *** used *** ************ ... *** *** merely *** ****** **** *** * camera, *** **** *********** ** ******* images, ** ****** * ***** ******.”
****** *****"********* ************* ** ****************** ********* *** videosurveillance *********" **** ** *****, *********, and ******, *** ******* "***** ************ equipment" **:
*** ********* **** ** **** ** fixed *** ****** ******** **** ******** advanced ************** ******* ** *** **** of * ***** ************ *******, ******** the ********* ******** ** **** ********** components.
*** "****************** *********" **:
*** ********* **** ** ***** ** mobile ******** **** ******** ******** ************** service, ******** *** ********* ******** ** uses ********** **********.
********* ********** *** *** ** ******* 2023** ****** *** ***** ** ***** definitions. *** ******* *** ** *** been ************, *** ** ** *** anticipate **** ********. ****** ************ ********* "***** ** ************ **** to ******** ********," *** ** ******** to ***** *** ******** ********* ******** from *** ***.
Calls *** ********* ********
** ******* ************ ******, ********* ****** **** *** ****** Equipment *** - *** *** ********* the *** ** *** *** ********* product ************** - *** *** ***** to "***********[**] ***" *** ********* **************. Thus, ********* ****** **** *** ******** expeditious ******** *** *** ********** **** would ** ************ "**** *** *******'* limited *****":
******** *** *** ****** * *********** ban ** *** ************** *** ********* affected ** *** ****** ******** *** (“SNA”) *** *** ****** ********* *** (“SEA”). ** *** ***** ********** **********, Congress’s ********** “******* ** ***********’ *****-************ equipment [****] ** *** ****** **** it ** **** *** ******* ********[.]” Accordingly—particularly ***** **** ** *** *** been **** **** **** ***** ***** Congress ******* *** ***’* ********* **** the ********** ****** *** ******* ****, and ****** *** *** * **** years ***** ******** ******* *** ***—*** Commission **** **** ************* ** ******* compliance ***** ********** **** *** *******’* limited *****
********* *** ******* ************** ** ********** important *** ********* ** **** *** competitive ****** ** *** **, ** it's *** ********** **** ********* ** requesting ********* ********. ** **** **** passes, *********'* *** ******* ************** **** become **** *** **** *********** **** other *********' *** *********.
*** ********* ****** **** * ******* is ******** ** **** **** - if *** - ****** ** *** FCC's ********-****** ** ********.
Hikvision ******** ************ ********* ** ************ *********
** ****** ****** ********* ** ***** **, 2024, ********* ********* ************ ********* ** information ********* *** ************ *********. ********* argues ****:
*** ************ *********** ** ****** **** disclosure ******* ** ******** ************ ********* and *********** ***********. ** **********, *** Confidential *********** ******** ******** ********* **** regarding *** ********** ************ *** **** with ***** ********* *** ***** **** in *** ****** ******. **** *********** is *** ******** *********.
*** ********* ***** *** ************ ********* are ******** **** *** ****** ******:
IPVM ** ****** *** *******
**** ***** ** ****** * ******* to *** *** **** ******** *** concerns ***** *** ******** ****'* *********** and ***** *** ***********. ** **** update **** ****** **** ** ** so.
****, **** ****! * ** ************ interested ** ***, ** **** ** accepted, *** ** **** ****** *** and ***** ******* *** **** **** their **** ** **** **** ***** buyers ***** *****, *** *.*.******** ****** *** & ****** **** Selling ***** *** *********