Reports from the Heart of the Machine
Machine Heart Editorial Department
Recently, U.S. government agencies have been frequently sanctioning Chinese companies.
On March 25, local time, the FCC of the US Federal Communications Commission added China Telecom (Americas) Company, China Mobile (USA), Kaspersky and other companies to the list of communication equipment and service providers that pose a threat to U.S. national security.
Last year, the regulator listed five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, as the first to be listed. Kaspersky is the first Russian company on the list.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the new list "will help protect our networks from threats posed by Chinese and Russian state-backed entities that seek to engage in espionage and otherwise harm U.S. interests."
U.S. officials have long believed that running Kaspersky antivirus software could expose U.S. networks to malicious attacks, and since 2017, Kaspersky's flagship antivirus products have been banned on the networks of federal agencies. Moscow-based Kaspersky has denied the allegations.
Kaspersky responded in a statement that he was disappointed by the FCC's decision and believed it was "made for political reasons". The company said the move was "unconfirmed and a geopolitical reaction, not a comprehensive assessment of the integrity of Kaspersky's products and services".
The Chinese companies concerned did not immediately comment.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington said Friday that the FCC "abused state power to maliciously attack Chinese telecom operators again without factual evidence." The United States should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies."
The Commerce Department criticized the FCC's actions earlier this month, saying China would take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
In May 2019, then-President Trump signed an executive order prohibiting U.S. companies from using telecommunications equipment made by companies that pose a national security risk. The FCC listed five companies, including Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua Technology, in March last year as a threat to U.S. national security. It was also the first company to be included in the U.S. Telecommunications Regulator's "Covered List."
Last October, the FCC revoked the U.S. 214 license authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it was "under Chinese influence and control." 214 License means an international telecommunications business authorization issued by the FCC under Section 214 of the U.S. Communications Act (1934 and 1996 revision) to provide international public carrier communications services between the United States and foreign countries, and to provide domestic interstate public carrier communications services in the United States.
The FCC cited its previous decision to deny or revoke the Ability of Chinese Telecom companies to operate in the United States in its decision to add Chinese telecom companies to the threat list.
The FCC also revoked China Unicom in February and in March revoked the authorization of Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet to provide U.S. telecommunications services.
Prior to its inclusion on the list, in 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile's application to provide U.S. telecommunications services on grounds of national security risks.
Inclusion on the Covered List means that the FCC's $8 billion-a-year Universal Service Fund will not be used to purchase or maintain the companies' products. The fund supports telecommunications equipment in rural areas, low-income consumers, and facilities such as schools, libraries, and hospitals.
In addition, the FCC named Hytera Communications, Hikvision and Dahua Technology as security threats last year.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency is working closely with U.S. national security agencies to update the list and will add other companies as necessary.
For reference:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-expands-list-equipment-and-services-pose-security-threat
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-fcc-adds-ao-kaspersky-lab-china-telecom-firms-national-security-threat-list-2022-03-25/