STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER BRENDAN CARR Re: China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited, GN Docket No. 20-110, ITC-214-20020728-00361; ITC-214-20020724-00427 In 2019, when we blocked China Mobile USA from entering the U.S. market based on national security concerns, I said it was time for a top to bottom review of every telecom carrier with ties to the communist regime in China. Many of these firms were authorized to operate in the U.S. decades ago and the potential security threats have evolved substantially in the intervening years. With that type of review in mind, the FCC opened investigations into several carriers—including the carrier at issue here, China Unicom Americas. Consistent with the actions the Commission took against China Mobile USA in 2019 and China Telecom Americas in 2021, our decision today is informed by the views submitted by the Executive Branch agencies with responsibility for national security reviews. As our record here shows, those agencies have advised the FCC that there are serious national security and law enforcement risks associated with China Unicom Americas’ continued access to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. They also stated that China Unicom Americas’ operations provide opportunities for Chinese state-sponsored actors to engage in economic espionage and other forms of theft of high value U.S. targets, including businesses and government agencies. Indeed, the FCC’s own review found that China Unicom Americas poses significant national security concerns due to its control and ownership by the Chinese government, including its susceptibility to complying with Communist China’s intelligence and cybersecurity laws. Our review also found that China Unicom Americas’ conduct towards the Commission and Congress lacked candor and trustworthiness. Together, these factors present an unacceptable risk to our national security and therefore I support today’s decision. The threat to our networks from entities aligned with Communist China is one that we must address head on, and I am pleased that the FCC continues to show the strength and resolve necessary to meet this challenge. But as the threat landscape evolves, so too must our response. Fortunately, Congress granted us with tools—including the Covered List—to keep America’s networks secure. Our determination that China Unicom Americas presents an unacceptable national security risk appears sufficient to trigger the process of adding them to our Covered List. Doing so could impose additional restrictions on China Unicom Americas that go beyond the scope of our section 214 authorizations, so I encourage the Commission to take appropriate action on this front, as I have recommended with China Telecom Americas before. I look forward to continuing to work with my FCC colleagues on ways to protect America’s communications networks and, in turn, our national security. My sincere thanks to the staff who prepared today’s item. It has my support.