WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unanimously voted to revoke the authority of three major Chinese state-owned telecommunications companies to provide broadband internet services in the United States, marking the latest escalation in the ongoing tech standoff between the two nations. The order targets China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, and China Mobile International USA, citing significant and unacceptable risks to national security.
In its official announcement, the FCC stated that the companies’ ties to the Chinese government give them the means and motive to engage in espionage and other activities harmful to U.S. interests. The commission expressed concerns that the carriers could be compelled to comply with requests from Beijing to access, store, or misroute American data, or to disrupt critical communications infrastructure. This decision follows previous FCC actions that revoked the companies’ licenses to provide traditional voice call services.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the nation’s networks. “The FCC has been at the forefront of a whole-of-government effort to protect our communications networks from foreign threats,” she stated. “This action is a critical part of our ongoing mission to safeguard the security and integrity of the U.S. telecommunications ecosystem.”
The ban requires the companies to cease providing all broadband internet access services in the United States within 60 days of the order’s effective date. While the companies primarily serve business and enterprise customers rather than residential users, the move effectively severs their connection to the American market, further isolating China’s tech giants from the West. The Chinese government has previously condemned similar U.S. actions as protectionist measures that violate international trade rules.
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