Media Contact: Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC INITIATES PROCEEDING REGARDING REVOCATION AND TERMINATION OF CHINA TELECOM (AMERICAS) CORPORATION’S AUTHORIZATIONS WASHINGTON, December 10, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission today launched a proceeding to determine whether to end China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s authority to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States under section 214 of the Communications Act. The protection of national security is an integral part of the Commission’s responsibility to advance the public interest, and today’s action seeks to safeguard the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats. In April 2020, several Executive Branch agencies recommended that the FCC revoke and terminate the international section 214 authorizations of China Telecom (Americas) Corporation (China Telecom Americas) based on the “substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks associated with [China Telecom Americas’] continued access to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure” pursuant to these authorizations. China Telecom Americas is indirectly and ultimately owned and controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China. Moreover, the corporate governance documents of China Telecom Americas’ parent company give the Chinese Communist Party substantial control over its management and business operations. And China Telecom Americas has purportedly made inaccurate statements to U.S. authorities about its record storage policies and failed to provide adequate notice to Executive Branch agencies of applications it filed with the FCC—a requirement of the mitigation agreement it entered into with the Executive Branch when it received FCC approval to transfer control of its authorizations in 2007. Based in part on the recommendation of the Executive Branch agencies, the FCC’s International Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Enforcement Bureau issued an Order in April requiring China Telecom Americas to show cause why the Commission should not start a process for revoking and terminating its domestic and international section authorizations. Today, the Commission determined that China Telecom Americas has failed to provide a satisfactory response to the concerns of the Executive Branch or to the FCC’s Order to Show Cause. 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 proceeding will also consider whether the company complied with its 2007 letter of assurances to the Department of Justice—including the FBI—and Department of Homeland Security. Action by the Commission December 10, 2020 by Order Instituting Proceedings on Revocation and Termination and Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 20-177). Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel, and Starks approving. Chairman Pai, Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing a separate statement. GN Docket No. 20-109; ITC-214-20010613-00346; ITC-214-20020716-00371; ITC-T/C-20070725-00285 ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 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).