FCC Votes to Ban China Unicom From Operating in US

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to ban Chinese telecommunications carrier China Unicom from providing services within the U.S. The FCC’s Order on Revocation directs the firm to discontinue its services within 60 days. The move comes amid a wave of FCC actions against Chinese carriers in recent years, citing concerns around state-sponsored cyberespionage. The FCC, in a statement, says the action is based on input from executive branch partners, a company review and public record. The agency – whose jurisdiction includes broadband, fair competition, radio frequency, media responsibility, public safety and homeland security – says the move “safeguards the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats.” “Today we take another critical step to protect our communications networks from foreign national security threats,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel says in a statement. “There has been mounting evidence – and with it, a growing concern – that Chinese state-owned carriers pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks.”