Commerce Dept. Says Supply Chain Rules Could Cost Tech, Telecom Up to $20B

Commerce Department rules for reviewing transactions involving some foreign telecom and IT products and services would cost all 4.5 million firms possibly affected as much as $20 billion, the department says in Tuesday's Federal Register. The rule allows Commerce to step in to review any proposed, ongoing or pending ITCS goods or services transaction. The rule provides for an optional "licensing" process whereby companies can request a review of their transaction and, if approved, get safe harbor. Procedures for the licenses will be published by Commerce in 60 days, the rule said. Included in the new supply chain rules are information or communications technology used in a critical infrastructure; software, hardware and services integral to wireless local area networks, mobile networks, satellite payloads and operations and control; software or hardware that has sensitive personal data on more than 1 million U.S. customers; and software designed for communicating via the Internet used by more than that number.