Media Contact: 
Bill Davenport, 202-418-2500
William.Davenport@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

COMMISSIONER STARKS ON THE
POSSIBLE REVOCATION OF US OPERATING AUTHORITY 
OF CHINESE TELECOM CARRIERS

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2020:  Commissioner Geoffrey Starks issued the following statement regarding today’s release of orders directing China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, and Pacific Networks and its subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC, to show cause why their FCC authorizations to operate in the United States should not be revoked:

“As countries around the world fight the COVID-19 pandemic, we rely more than ever on our communications networks.  Every day throughout the world, historic amounts of traffic cross these networks as people work from home, students engage in distance learning, and patients engage in telehealth visits with their doctors.

“With such an unprecedented increase in data traffic, we’ve never had a greater need to ensure the security of these communications.  That’s why we must pay even greater attention to whom we permit to interconnect with American communications networks.

“I support this decision by the Commission’s professional staff, based on the recommendation of the Executive Branch’s expert agencies.  Last year, I voted to deny a Chinese carrier’s application to operate in the United States based on concerns that allowing the company to interconnect with our networks would harm our national security.  The authorizations at issue today raise similar concerns.  I look forward to reviewing the companies’ responses and the final recommendation of the professional staff.  Our national security must be protected.”


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Office of Commissioner Geoffrey Starks: (202) 418-2500 
ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @GeoffreyStarks 
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/geoffrey-starks

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).