Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 30: The United States is planning to restrict Chinese telecommunications companies from directly accessing American phone numbers, citing national security concerns and the need to curb scam-related robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday announced that it would vote on November 19 on a proposal to block China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and other IP-enabled service providers from obtaining direct access to US telephone numbers.
Direct access is a relatively cheaper option for companies providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which convert voice into digital data and transmit it through broadband connections. It also allows providers to offer advanced features to customers.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the proposed action would strengthen the country's defences against illegal robocalls and malicious actors. "With this decision, the FCC will be strengthening our first line of defence against bad actors and illegal robocallers," he said in a statement.
The FCC is also proposing to bar IP-enabled service providers that use equipment manufactured by companies listed as national security risks, including Chinese technology firms Huawei and ZTE. The agency may additionally revoke direct telephone number authorisations granted to Chinese companies it considers security threats.
In a separate measure, the FCC has announced plans to prohibit Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices intended for the US market from December 2028.
The three major Chinese telecom operators have already faced restrictions in the United States. The FCC previously barred China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the country. Further measures under consideration include preventing them from connecting to US networks and operating data centres within the country.
Washington's concerns over Chinese access to American telecommunications infrastructure have intensified in recent years, particularly following the Salt Typhoon cyber espionage campaign.
In late 2024, US authorities accused a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group known as Salt Typhoon of infiltrating American telecommunications companies and stealing consumer call records and other communications data. The FBI said this year that the threat posed by the group remained ongoing.
In July, the FCC also added California-based Digitalsystem Technology to its list of companies considered risks to US national security. The agency cited the company's links to Chinese telecommunications firms and its ownership by a Chinese national.
China has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing, while the Chinese Embassy had not immediately commented on the latest FCC proposal.
The proposed restrictions form part of Washington's broader efforts to tighten oversight of foreign-linked telecommunications infrastructure and protect American communications networks from potential security threats.