DOJ urges FCC to revoke China Telecom's license

guest · Apr 9, 2020

DOJ urges FCC to revoke China Telecom's license
It must also be added that China Telecom has a spotty internet security record
April 9, 2020
https://www.zdnet.com/article/doj-urges-fcc-to-revoke-china-telecoms-license/

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke and terminate China Telecom (Americas) Corp's authorization to provide international telecommunications services to and from the US.

The DoJ is doing this on behalf of President Donald Trump's new Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector.
It's informally known as Team Telecom. It supervises foreign telecom FCC licenses.

Attorney General William P. Barr explained:

"This is a national security and public safety issue. That's why the federal government must be vigilant and ensure that a foreign adversary cannot undermine the networks our country depends on."
Two days later, Barr asked the FCC to kick China Telecom out of the US.
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Barr is asking the FCC to stop China Telecom for multiple reasons.
These include: [...]

In response China Telecom (Americas)'s Director of Corporate Communications Ge Yu, said,

"Today, several government agencies took the procedurally unprecedented step of making allegations related to China Telecom Americas' FCC licensing. We unequivocally deny the allegations. [...]"
China Telecom (Americas) parent company, China Telecom, is a state-owned company and the third latest telecommunications company in China. Americas is its largest foreign subsidiary. Telecom is also a leading 5G company.
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mirimir · Apr 9, 2020

guest · Apr 19, 2020

Senate panel wants stricter oversight of Chinese telecoms
It believes the US has been soft on Chinese tech for decades
April 19, 2020
https://www.engadget.com/senate-panel-stricter-oversight-of-chinese-telecoms-211929587.html

If it wasn’t already clear that the US government wants to crack down on Chinese telecoms, it should be very shortly. The Wall Street Journal understands that the Senate Permanent Subcommitee on Investigations will issue a report demanding stricter oversight of Chinese telecoms operating in the US, arguing that they otherwise pose an “unacceptable” national security risk.

The panel criticizes several regulators (nicknamed Team Telecom) for finding no concerns when China Telecom and China Unicom, both state-run, got licenses to operate in the US in 2002.
A risk mitigation deal in 2007 gave those regulators the power to visit China Telecom, but they only used that twice (in 2017 and 2018), according to the Senate panel’s findings.
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However, this panel could help foster an even more aggressive stance.
It’s not certain this approach will prove beneficial.
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mirimir · Apr 20, 2020

Actually, all joking aside, this makes a great deal of sense.

guest · Apr 24, 2020

FCC may halt U.S. operations of three state-controlled Chinese telecom firms
April 24, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ontrolled-chinese-telecom-firms-idUSKCN2262JA

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday said it may shut down the U.S. operations of three state-controlled Chinese telecommunications companies, citing national security risks.

The FCC issued so-called show cause orders to China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks Corp and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC, directing them to explain why it should not start the process of revoking authorizations enabling their U.S. operations.

“We simply cannot take a risk and hope for the best when it comes to the security of our networks,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement.
The agency’s show cause orders referred to the “sophistication and resulting damage of the Chinese government’s involvement in computer intrusions and attacks against the United States,” but did not elaborate.
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guest · Jun 2, 2020

Chinese telecom firms urge FCC not to block U.S. operations
June 2, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...fcc-not-to-block-u-s-operations-idUSKBN2383RJ

Pacific Networks Corp and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to shut down its U.S. operations.

In April, the FCC issued show cause orders to three state-controlled Chinese telecommunications companies, including Pacific, citing national security risks.
The FCC directed China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas and Pacific Networks to explain why it should not start revoking authorizations enabling their U.S. operations.
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Pacific and ComNet said in a 92-page FCC filing that “neither company has been asked by the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party to take any action that would ‘jeopardize the national security and law enforcement interests of the United States.’”
The companies said they have operated in the United States for 20 years without any FCC enforcement action.

The companies said they “not only operated independently from the Chinese government” but have “complied and cooperated with the United States government.”
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guest · Jun 9, 2020

U.S. failed to properly oversee Chinese telecom carriers: Senate panel
June 9, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...e-telecom-carriers-senate-panel-idUSKBN23G11K

A U.S. Senate report released Tuesday says the U.S. government failed to properly oversee Chinese-owned telecommunications companies for nearly two decades.

The report from the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says the U.S. government “provided little-to-no oversight of Chinese state-owned telecommunications carriers operating in the United States for nearly twenty years.”
The report urged the FCC to quickly decide whether to revoke the three Chinese carriers’ authorizations.

“Federal agencies have done little to protect the integrity of U.S. telecommunications networks and counter national security threats from China,” the panel’s chairman, Rob Portman, a Republican, said in a statement.
An FCC spokesman said the commission looks forward to reviewing the Senate report.
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guest · Oct 20, 2020

FCC Wants More Information on Threat Posed by China Unicom
October 19, 2020
https://www.inforisktoday.com/fcc-wants-more-information-on-threat-posed-by-china-unicom-a-15202

The Federal Communications Commission is asking the Justice Department and other executive branch agencies if China Unicom America's operations pose a signficant threat to U.S. national security.

This move comes after the Justice Department and several other agencies asked the FCC in April to revoke China Telecom's license to provide international telecommunications services to and from the U.S., citing the Chinese's government influence over its operations. The company has denied those charges of government influence (see: Trump Administration Wants China Telecom's US License Revoked).

"We request the committee's views on China Unicom Americas' arguments concerning whether and how it is subject to the exploitation, influence and control of the Chinese government, and the national security and law enforcement risks associated with such exploitation, influence and control," the letter states. "We also ask the committee to respond as to whether mitigation measures could address any identified concerns."
The letter asks the Justice Department to respond by Nov. 16.
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China Telecom has urged the FCC not to revoke its ability to operate in the U.S., according to Reuters.
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guest · Dec 10, 2020

FCC begins process of halting China Telecom U.S. operations
December 10, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa...ng-china-telecom-u-s-operations-idUSKBN28K2ER

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Thursday it begun the process of revoking China Telecom’s authorization to operate in the United States as it took further steps to crack down on China’s role in U.S. telecommunications.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai noted several U.S. government agencies had recommended the revocation citing national security concerns.
Pai said there are “significant concerns” that China Telecom will be forced to comply with Chinese government’s requests for information, including communications intercepts. China Telecom, the largest Chinese telecommunications company, has had authorization to provide telecommunications services for nearly 20 years.
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guest · Dec 11, 2020

China says US claims about national security risks from telecom are false
December 11, 2020
https://www.wionews.com/world/china...-security-risks-from-telecom-are-false-349060

China said on Friday that US claims about risks to national security were completely false, following a US decision to halt China Telecom US operations.
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guest · Oct 26, 2021

FCC revokes license for China Telecom Americas amid national security concerns
October 26, 2021
https://therecord.media/fcc-revokes...com-americas-amid-national-security-concerns/

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to revoke China Telecom Americas U.S. operating license on Tuesday, citing national security concerns. Among the reasons cited for the switch: China Telecom’s status as a subsidiary of a state-owned enterprise and the possibility that the company could provide a conduit for hackers intent on launching cyber attacks in this country.

The FCC’s decision is the latest in a string of U.S. government actions against Chinese communications companies. Last year, the commission denied a request by China Mobile to provide service in the U.S.
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China Telecom is the PRC’s largest telecommunications company and it offers, among other things, wireless services marketed to Chinese Americans and Chinese tourists who travel to the U.S. and want to bring their phones with them. The company has been operating in the U.S. for almost 20 years.

“The FCC must remain vigilant to the threats posed by the Communist Party of China and those who would do its bidding,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said in a statement posted on Twitter.
He added that China Telecom’s interactions with the Commission as it conducted its review of the license was disingenuous. He said the company “lacked candor and trustworthiness.”
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FCC: FCC Revokes China Telecom America's Telecom Services Authority

guest · Nov 4, 2021

Beijing lashes USA's China Telecom ban – but quite gently
November 4, 2021
https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/beijing_lashes_usas_china_telecom/

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has responded with mild indignation to the USA's decision to revoke the operating licence that allowed China Telcom to operate in the land of the free.

In a Wednesday statement, the Ministry accused the USA of using national security as a pretext for banning Chinese companies, complained that evidence of China Telecom's alleged misdeeds has not been furnished, and that the ban breaches international trade rules.
The Ministry also objected to the decision on grounds that banning businesses without evidence isn't consistent with the usual practice of free market economies and called on the US government to rescind its decision.
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Intriguingly, the ban on China Telecom has not so far generated a response from the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
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guest · Nov 16, 2021

China Telecom's US arm sues in last-ditch bid to retain license
Company claims it poses no threat, yet regs want China influence out
November 16, 2021
https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/16/china_telecom_us_emergency_lawsuit/

The US subsidiary of China Telecom has filed an emergency appeal it hopes will prevent the impending revocation of the company's license to operate in the USA, which the The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) terminated in October on grounds the carrier is a national security threat.

"Absent a stay, ChinaTelAmericas will be forced to cease significant operations, irreparably harming its business, reputation, and relationships," according to the appeal filed with the US Appeals Court for the District of Columbia on Monday.
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The Chinese giant argued that the FCC rejected its request for a hearing and that there is no evidence it poses an imminent security threat.

"To date, this proceeding has spanned 18 months, during which time ChinaTelAmericas has continued to operate without incident, as it did for nearly two decades before that," the appeal states.

While China Telecom denied it could, would, or has done anything of the sort, it did myseriously reroute European telco traffic through China in 2019 and was accused of doing similar things to US government communications in 2020.
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