FCC Revokes Authorization of More Chinese Telecom Providers

The Federal Communications Commission banned two more Chinese-owned telecommunication companies from operating in the US market, ... GoogleEarthDaySlideshow AirFryersRecalled 'Lightyear'Trailer Splatoon3ReleaseDate Formula1:HowtoWatch BloodTypeandHeartHealth Featured Mobile Computing Gaming HomeEntertainment Services&Software FCCRevokesAuthorizationofMoreChineseTelecomProviders TheagencycontinuesitseffortstosecureUSnetworksbybanningcompanieswithtiestotheChinesegovernmentamidconcernsoverespionage. MargueriteReardon March16,202211:27a.m.PT MargueriteReardon Seniorreporter MargueriteReardonhasbeenaCNETNewsreportersince2004,coveringcellphoneservices,broadband,citywideWi-Fi,theNetneutralitydebate,aswellastheongoingconsolidationofthephonecompanies.E-mailMaggie. Seefullbio PavloGonchar/SOPAImages/LightRocketviaGettyImages TheFederalCommunicationsCommissionbannedtwomoreChinese-ownedtelecommunicationcompanies fromoperatingintheUSmarket,asitcontinuestobewarythatcompanieswithtiestotheChinesegovernmentcouldposenationalsecuritythreats. Ina4-0voteonWednesday,theagencybarredPacificNetworksanditswhollyownedsubsidiaryComNetfromprovidingdomesticandinternationalservicetocustomersintheUS. ThemoveisthelatestinaseriesofactionstheFCChastakentoguardagainstpotentialespionage inUScommunicationsnetworksfromChina.InJanuary,theFCCrevokedChinaUnicom'sauthorization tooperateintheUS,andlastyear didthesameforChinaTelecomAmericas.IthasalsobannedgearfromtelecommunicationscompaniesHuaweiandZTE. Theagency'svoteonWednesdayispartofagreatereffortbytheUSgovernmenttocrackdownonChina'sroleinUStelecommunications,amidconcernsthatequipmentorservicesoperatedbyChinesecompanieswithclosetiestotheChinesegovernmentcouldbeusedtogatherintelligenceandspyonAmericans.ThemoveisanotherindicationthatPresidentJoeBidenisfollowingasimilarhard-linepolicytowardChinatothatofhispredecessor,PresidentDonaldTrump,whoalsobanned5GwirelesstechnologyfromChinesecompanies. NationalsecurityagencieshavewarnedforyearsofthedangersofusinggearfromChinesecompanies,suchasHuaweiandZTE,andoflettingChinesetelecommunicationsserviceprovidersoperateintheUS.PoliticiansonCapitolHillhavebeensoundingthealarm,too.FCCChairJessicaRosenworcelsaidtheagency'sactionsarepartofagreaterefforttoensurethatAmericanstrustthesecurityoftheUScommunicationsnetworks. "Communicationsnetworksdependontrust,"shesaid."That'swhyduringthepastyeartheFederalCommunicationsCommissionhasmadeitaprioritytoincreasetrustwithaseriesofinitiativestosupportnetworksecurity."Chineseofficialshavelongdeniedallegationsthatstate-ownedcompaniesarebeingusedforespionageintheUS.TheysaythatthereisnoevidencetosupporttheUSclaimsandthatthebansareatactictostiflecompetitionfromChinesecompanies. "TheUShasflagrantlyoverstretchedtheconceptofnationalsecurityandabusedstatepowertohobbleaChinesecompany,whichgravelyunderminesinternationaltraderulesandhurtsthelegitimaterightsandinterestsofglobalconsumersincludingthoseintheUS,"saidChineseForeignMinistryspokesmanZhaoLijian,duringapressconferenceinJanuary."TheChinesegovernmentsupportscompaniesconcernedindefendingtheirowninterestsinaccordancewithlaw,andwillcontinuetotakenecessarymeasurestoresolutelysafeguardthelegitimaterightsandinterestsofChinesecompanies." GettheCNETMobilenewsletter Findthebestphones,appsandaccessorieswithourCNETMobilenewsletter.DeliveredTuesdaysandThursdays.