FCC expels China Telecom from the US
The Commission states it is safeguarding the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats


The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered China Telecom to stop providing domestic interstate and international communication services within the US, saying it is safeguarding the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats.
The order found that China Telecom, a US subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned enterprise, is subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government and is highly likely to be forced to comply with Chinese government requests without sufficient legal procedures subject to independent judicial oversight.
China Telecom has 60 days to comply with the order and cease its operations in the country.
The FCC found that the company’s ownership and control by the Chinese government raises significant national security and law enforcement concerns by providing opportunities for China Telecom, its parent entities, and the Chinese government, to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute US communications.
It said this, in turn, allows it to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the US.
It added that the company’s conduct and representations to the Commission and other government agencies demonstrated a lack of candour, trustworthiness, and reliability that erodes the baseline level of trust the FCC and other agencies require of telcos, given the critical nature of the provision of telecommunications service in the US.
RELATED RESOURCE
HP Wolf Security: Threat insights report
Equipping security teams with the knowledge to combat emerging threats
“Today, based on the totality of the extensive unclassified record alone, the Commission’s public interest analysis finds that the present and future public interest, convenience, and necessity is no longer served by China Telecom Americas’ retention of its section 214 authority,” stated the FCC.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
IT Pro has contacted China Telecom for comment.
The decision to ban China Telecom was originally recommended by the Trump-era Justice department in April 2020, before an investigation was launched by the FCC the following December. At the same time, the FCC ordered certain telecom companies to remove Huawei equipment from their networks as part of this process, citing concerns of the companies’ links to the Chinese government.
Zach Marzouk is a former ITPro, CloudPro, and ChannelPro staff writer, covering topics like security, privacy, worker rights, and startups, primarily in the Asia Pacific and the US regions. Zach joined ITPro in 2017 where he was introduced to the world of B2B technology as a junior staff writer, before he returned to Argentina in 2018, working in communications and as a copywriter. In 2021, he made his way back to ITPro as a staff writer during the pandemic, before joining the world of freelance in 2022.
-
Using WinRAR? Update now to avoid falling victim to this file path flaw
News WinRAR users have been urged to update after a patch was issued for a serious vulnerability.
-
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy doubles down on the company's AI focus
News Amazon CEO Andy Jassy thinks companies need to "lean into" AI and embrace the technology despite concerns over job losses.
-
Intel makes high-level hires while factory workers are warned of layoffs
News The company is appointing four senior executives as part of efforts to refocus on engineering and customer relationships
-
UiPath names Simon Pettit as new AVP for UK and Ireland
News The seasoned leader will spearhead region-specific transformation projects as UiPath looks to drive operational growth and customer engagement
-
IDC warns US tariffs will impact tech sector spending
News IDC has warned that the US government's sweeping tariffs could cut global IT spending in half over the next six months.
-
US government urged to overhaul outdated technology
News A review from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found legacy technology and outdated IT systems are negatively impacting efficiency.
-
US proposes new ‘know-your-customer’ restrictions on cloud providers
News The US aims to stifle Chinese AI competition with new restrictions on cloud providers to verify foreign data center users
-
How to empower employees to accelerate emissions reduction
in depth With ICT accounting for as much as 3% of global carbon emissions, the same as aviation, the industry needs to increase emissions reduction
-
SEC passes rules compelling US public companies to report data breaches within four days
News Foreign entities trading publicly in the US will also be held to comparative standards
-
Worldwide IT spending to grow 4.3% in 2023, with no significant AI impact
News Spending patterns have changed as companies take an inward focus