diff --git a/api/current.xml b/api/current.xml
index 6af5fc03b7e88..d665bcac91a5f 100644
--- a/api/current.xml
+++ b/api/current.xml
@@ -111,6 +111,17 @@
  visibility="public"
 >
 </field>
+<field name="ACCESS_USB"
+ type="java.lang.String"
+ transient="false"
+ volatile="false"
+ value="&quot;android.permission.ACCESS_USB&quot;"
+ static="true"
+ final="true"
+ deprecated="not deprecated"
+ visibility="public"
+>
+</field>
 <field name="ACCESS_WIFI_STATE"
  type="java.lang.String"
  transient="false"
diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index a184a5c922059..34d8d29cbedb3 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -464,11 +464,10 @@
         android:label="@string/permlab_flashlight"
         android:description="@string/permdesc_flashlight" />
 
-    <!-- Allows an application to access USB devices
-         @hide -->
+    <!-- Allows an application to access USB devices -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_USB"
         android:permissionGroup="android.permission-group.HARDWARE_CONTROLS"
-        android:protectionLevel="signatureOrSystem"
+        android:protectionLevel="normal"
         android:label="@string/permlab_accessUsb"
         android:description="@string/permdesc_accessUsb" />
 
diff --git a/data/etc/platform.xml b/data/etc/platform.xml
index ea91c218b6058..df80546688fad 100644
--- a/data/etc/platform.xml
+++ b/data/etc/platform.xml
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@
         <group gid="sdcard_rw" />
     </permission>
 
-    <permission name="android.permission.ACCESS_USB" >
-        <group gid="usb" />
-    </permission>
-
     <permission name="android.permission.ACCESS_MTP" >
         <group gid="mtp" />
     </permission>