FCC names Chinese telecoms companies as threats to us national security

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission FCC named Chinese telecom companies Pacific Networks Corp., its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet USA LLC and China Unicom Americas as threats to U.S. national security, the regulator said Tuesday.

The designations were part of a law aimed at protecting U.S. communications networks in the year 2019. In March 2021, the FCC initially designated five Chinese companies under its Covered List - including Huawei Technologies Co., ZTE Corp., Hytera Communications Corp., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co.

The companies are subject to the Chinese government's exploitation, influence and control, along with the associated national security risks, according to the FCC. They also raised concerns that both will be forced to comply with Chinese government requests for communications intercepts without the ability to challenge such requests. The Chinese embassy in Washington and U.S. lawyers for China Unicom and Pacific Networks did not respond to requests for comment.

The U.S. regulators revoked China Unicom's U.S. unit, Pacific Networks and ComNet's authorization to operate in the United States earlier this year, citing national security concerns.

Jessica Rosenworcel, Chair of the FCC, said that the move was critical to protecting U.S. communications networks from foreign interference.

We are taking additional action to close the door to these companies. In March, the FCC added Russia's AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom Americas Corp and China Mobile International USA to the covered list.

In October 2021, the FCC revoked the U.S. authorization for China Telecom Americas and rejected China Mobile's bid to provide U.S. telecommunications services, citing national security risks.

Money from the FCC's $8 billion Universal Service Fund may not be used to purchase or maintain products from the companies that are included on the covered list because of the inclusion on the covered list. The fund supports telecommunications for rural areas, low-income consumers and facilities such as schools, libraries and hospitals.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said this year that the FCC abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators without a factual basis. The US should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies.