End China Telecom's US Authorizations, Federal Agencies Tell FCC
Executive branch agencies recommended the FCC revoke China Telecom's U.S. authorizations for international telecom services. DOJ, which led the review, said the agencies found "substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks," including Chinese government malicious cyber activity targeting…
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the U.S., and concerns China Telecom -- a U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese government-owned telecom company -- is vulnerable to China's "exploitation, influence, and control." It said China Telecom made inaccurate statements to U.S. authorities about recordkeeping and made inaccurate public representations of cybersecurity practices. The 71-page redacted recommendation filed with the International Bureau said China Telecom "will be forced to comply with Chinese government requests without sufficient legal procedures subject to independent judicial oversight." It also said the company's U.S. operations are a route for Chinese state-sponsored actors "to engage in economic espionage and disrupt and misroute U.S. communications traffic." The "security of our government and professional communications, as well as of our most private data, depends on our use of trusted partners from nations that share our values and our aspirations for humanity," said Assistant Attorney General-National Security John Demers. DOJ said the recommendation was by it and the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State, Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative. The FCC and China Telecom didn't comment.