FCC labels Chinese companies as a 'threat to national security'

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently added two Chinese companies to a list of companies that it believes threaten national security given their associations with foreign governments or groups.

The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau March 25 added China Telecom (Americas) Corp., and China Mobile International USA Inc., to its list of communications equipment and services companies that have been deemed a threat to national security, according to an FCC press release. The FCC also added Russian company Kaspersky Lab to the list.

“Last year, for the first time, the FCC published a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security, and we have been working closely with our national security partners to review and update this list,” Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, said in the release. “Today’s action is the latest in the FCC’s ongoing efforts, as part of the greater whole-of-government approach, to strengthen America’s communications networks against national security threats, including examining the foreign ownership of telecommunications companies providing service in the United States and revoking the authorization to operate where necessary. Our work in this area continues.”

According to the report, "China Telecom (Americas) Corp., (China Telecom) services associated with its section 214 authorizations, and China Telecom’s operations as a carrier in the United States pose substantial and unacceptable risks to U.S. national security and law enforcement concerns."

The report also noted that "services associated with China Mobile International USA Inc. (China Mobile)’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 214 of the Communications Act raised 'substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks in the current national security environment.'"

Companies added to the list include all subsidiaries and affiliated companies, according to the FCC.

The list and can be found on the FCC website.