FCC Votes to Terminate China Telecom's Operations in US Over National Security Concerns

China Telecom Americas, a subsidiary of China Telecom, now has 60 days to discontinue services after having operated in the United States for two decades.

The FCC voted 4-0 to terminate China Telecom America's license to provide domestic and international services within the United States.

The decision concluded more than a year of U.S. scrutiny into the Chinese telecom provider, which began last April during the Trump era when the Department of Justice and other federal agencies called for the FCC to bar China Telecom's U.S. operations.

The FCC on Tuesday highlighted China Telecom's ownership by the state, which it said would give Beijing authorities opportunities to "Access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute U.S. communications, which in turn allow them to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the United States."

There's bipartisan support to address security concerns coming from China.

Last week, the House passed a legislation led by Republican Whip Steve Scalise and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo banning FCC from reviewing or giving out equipment licenses to Chinese state-linked telecom companies deemed a national security threat.

The FCC in March declared five Chinese companies, including Chinese telecom giant Huawei, as posing a threat to national security.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/fcc-votes-to-terminate-china-telecoms-operations-in-us_4070367.html