The FCC has started to consider whether to ban China Telecom (Americas) Corporation from providing domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States. The company is indirectly and ultimately owned and controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China, according to the FCC.
This geo-political drama of sorts has extended to other parts of the telecom ecosystem. The FCC has taken similar steps with Chinese-based equipment providers, citing national security concerns, as Telecompetitor reported.
The action has been under consideration for some time. In April, several Executive Branch agencies recommended that the FCC revoke the company’s section 214 authorizations because there was “substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks associated with [China Telecom Americas’] continued access to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure” as a result of these authorizations.
The FCC’s International Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Enforcement Bureau issued an Order requiring the company to show why the Commission should not start a process for revoking and terminating its domestic and international section authorizations, which the company hasn’t done in a satisfactory manner, the FCC said.
According to the FCC, the Chinese Communist Party has substantial control over the company’s management and business operations.
The company has allegedly made inaccurate statements to U.S. authorities about its record storage policies, while also not meeting the requirement of providing adequate notice to Executive Branch agencies of applications it filed with the FCC.
“Today’s action therefore formally starts the process for determining whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity warrant revocation of the company’s domestic section 214 authority and revocation and/or termination of its international section 214 authorizations, the FCC said in a press release about the potential China Telecom Americas ban.
