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FCC Proposed Prohibition on Importation and Marketing of Covered Equipment (PS Docket No. 26-72) – Your Voice Matters

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Dear Valued Partner,

We write to share a regulatory update that may directly affect your business.

On March 27, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) and Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) released a Public Notice (DA 26-294) starting a process that could prohibit the continued importation and marketing of certain communications equipment previously authorized by the FCC and later placed on the Covered Equipment List (including equipment added in 2024 or earlier). As proposed, this would include Hikvision products.
Importantly, the continued use or operation of any such equipment that is already in the hands of end users would not be prohibited.

Hikvision strongly opposes any effort to restrict previously approved equipment in this way. In December 2025, we filed a petition for judicial review challenging related FCC actions in federal court, and that process is ongoing. We do not believe the FCC has the statutory authority to revoke authorizations for equipment that complies with applicable RF requirements. In addition, in prior proceedings, the courts have made clear that there are important legal and procedural issues the FCC must address before moving forward with additional restrictions. We expect courts to ensure that any final outcome is fair, transparent, and consistent with the law.

The FCC’s proposed action is NOT FINAL. However, if adopted as written, it could have significant impacts across the security industry. The FCC has opened a 30-day public comment period, currently expected to close on May 6, 2026.

Your input as a distributor, dealer or integrator/installer is especially important. The FCC places significant weight on real-world business impacts, particularly when supported by concrete data. We strongly encourage you to submit comments based on your own experience, including the potential financial, operational, and customer impacts of this proposed action. Attached appendices provide guidance and a sample template to assist you.

As always, Hikvision remains fully committed to supporting our partners during this period of uncertainty. We are actively engaging with legal counsel and industry stakeholders and will continue advocating for our customers and partners. We will keep you updated as this situation develops.

If you have questions, please contact your Hikvision sales representatives or email us at partners.usa@hikvision.com.

Sincerely,

Eric Chen

President, Hikvision USA Inc.

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Key Points for Your Comment

As a distribution partner or dealer with direct visibility into the market, your perspective is uniquely valuable. We encourage you to write in your own words and draw from your business experience.

Comments supported by specific data—such as inventory values, revenue exposure, project impacts, and customer effects—are especially impactful.

The following points may help guide your submission:

Financial exposure: The proposed action creates an uncertainty about whether existing inventory can be sold, which could result in significant losses. Estimate your current inventory value and revenue tied to Hikvision products, and describe potential financial impacts.
Availability of alternatives: Assess whether comparable products are readily available at scale, within similar price ranges, and with similar features. Note any supply constraints, lead times, or performance gaps with alternative vendors.
Transition costs and timing: Moving to alternative products may involve higher costs, retraining, system redesign, and longer timelines. Estimate the time and expense required, and describe what a realistic transition period would look like.
Customer and community impact: Describe how your customers—such as businesses, schools, hospitals, or residential communities—would be affected by supply disruptions or increased costs, and whether alternatives can meet their needs.
Existing contracts and projects: Explain how current projects, contracts, or purchase commitments could be delayed, disrupted, or become more costly.
Aftermarket service needs: While existing equipment can continue to be used, limits on importation could affect access to replacement parts, warranty service, and technical support. Describe the potential impact on system performance, safety, and ongoing service obligations.
Implementation challenges: Highlight practical challenges in enforcing a restriction on products already in the supply chain, and suggest reasonable approaches such as allowing existing inventory to be sold and providing a transition period.
Impact on your business and employees: Describe how the proposed action could affect your operations, employees and long-term business stability.

Sample Comment Template

For a sample template on how to prepare your comments to the FCC, click here. Please personalize it with your company’s specific data, circumstances, and experiences to make it as impactful as possible.

Dear Members of the Commission,

I am writing on behalf of [Company Name], a [distributor / dealer / security integrator / installer] based in [City, State]. We have been working with Hikvision products for [X] years, serving [describe your customer base, e.g., approximately X customers across the region, including small businesses, restaurants and residential communities].

I am writing in response to PS Docket No. 26-72, regarding the proposed prohibition on the importation and marketing of previously authorized covered communications equipment. We are deeply concerned about the impact this proposed action would have on our business and on the customers and communities we serve.

1. Financial Impact: We currently hold approximately $[X] in Hikvision inventory across our [warehouses / locations]. Hikvision-related products account for approximately [X]% of our annual revenue. A sudden prohibition on marketing would result in significant, unrecoverable financial losses and threaten the viability of our business.

2. Supply Chain Disruption: Transitioning to alternative equipment would require [X] months and significant investment in new procurement relationships, staff training, and system redesign. During this transition, our customers would face delays and increased costs that many—particularly small businesses and community organizations—cannot absorb.

3. Aftermarket Obligations: We currently support approximately [X] installed Hikvision devices across [X] client sites. Without continued access to replacement parts and technical support, these installations face degraded performance and potential security gaps—impacting the safety of the people and facilities they are designed to protect.

4. Existing Commitments: We have [X] active contracts and ongoing installations that specify Hikvision equipment. An immediate prohibition would disrupt these projects, expose us to contractual liabilities, and harm the end users who are counting on these security systems.

We respectfully urge the Commission to carefully consider the real-world economic and supply chain consequences of this proposed action. At a minimum, we request that the Commission allow the continued sale of existing inventory, provide an adequate transition period for affected businesses, and ensure that aftermarket support—including replacement parts, warranty service, and technical assistance—remains available for the devices already in use across the country.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on this important matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Title]

[Company Name]

How to Submit a Public Comment

Electronic Filing (Recommended):

1. Go to https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express and confirm you are on the “Express Comment” submenu tab near the top of the page:

2. Enter the relevant FCC docket number 26-72 in the field labeled “Proceeding(s)”, then complete all the required fields marked by an asterisk:

3. Type your comments directly into the “Brief Comments” field. When you are done, check the “Email Confirmation” box to receive an email confirmation, and click on “Continue to review screen” to begin the submission process, or “Reset form” to clear the form and begin again:

4. Deadline: (May 6, 2026)

Paper Filing:

Parties may also file by paper. An original and one copy of each filing must be submitted. Filings by hand or commercial courier should be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. Filings by U.S. Postal Service (First-Class, Priority, or Priority Mail Express) should be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

Important Notice to Our Partners

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