The FCC is drafting rules to block Chinese optical transceivers from US data centers, and the supply math doesn't add up for Big Tech. Zhongji Innolight, a Chinese manufacturer, currently commands approximately 27% of the global market for data-center optical transceivers. The firm estimates a supply gap of 12 to 24 months before domestic and allied manufacturers could ramp up production to meet demand. Why this matters beyond hardwareAWS, Microsoft, Meta, and Google have all made enormous capital commitments to AI infrastructure. But scaling up manufacturing capacity for precision optical components isn’t something you do over a weekend.