The Federal Communications Commission has made a significant decision to order the U.S. units of China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile to cease their fixed or mobile broadband internet operations in the United States. This directive comes as part of the net neutrality order passed by the FCC, requiring the Chinese carriers to halt their services within 60 days of the order’s effective date.
Additionally, the order extends to Chinese telecom Pacific Networks and its subsidiary ComNet, which have also been instructed to discontinue their operations in the U.S. The FCC’s Chair, Jessica Rosenworcel, emphasized that the commission had evidence of Chinese telecom carriers offering broadband services within the country.
The FCC’s decision is rooted in national security concerns, with the commission asserting that Chinese telecom firms are vulnerable to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government. This move is part of a broader effort by Washington to limit the involvement of Chinese telecom carriers in critical infrastructure, including undersea cables that handle internet traffic.
Notably, the FCC had previously taken action to restrict Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies and ZTE from supplying new telecommunications equipment in the U.S., citing the risks they pose to national security. These measures underscore Washington’s ongoing efforts to safeguard U.S. telecommunications infrastructure from potential threats.
