What does NDAA Mean?
The NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) is a set of laws passed by the federal government every year to determine the annual budget for the United States Department of Defense. These laws also help determine the rules and guidelines for how the US government can spend the annual budget.
In 2018, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 introduced Section 889 on the ‘Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment’. This prohibition requires all federal government, and anyone else involved with national security, from purchasing telecommunications and surveillance cameras from a series of Chinese manufacturers.
SEC. 889. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (a) PROHIBITION ON USE OR PROCUREMENT.—(1) The head of an executive agency may not— (A) procure or obtain or extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system; or (B) enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to— (A) prohibit the head of an executive agency from procuring with an entity to provide a service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or (B) cover telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles
Part A of Section 889 of the 2019 NDAA
What Manufacturers are Banned?
The federal government cannot purchase or acquire telecommunications and video equipment from the following companies and their subsidiaries or affiliates:
- Huawei Technologies Company
- ZTE Corporation
- Hytera Communications Corporation
- Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company
- Dahua Technology Company
SuperDroid Robots NDAA Compliance
SuperDroid Robots is committed to providing quality robotic platforms to our customers. Many of our robots are equipped with cameras or video equipment as part of their loadouts. Our robots are designed and manufactured to comply with the technical requirements laid out by Section 889 of the NDAA.