Chinese Telcos Hopes to Keep Operating in US

The US units of three state-controlled Chinese telecommunications firms have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to revoke their authorization to operate in the US.

In April, the FCC issued show-cause orders against US operations of China Telecom, China Unicom, and Pacific Networks Corp, and its subsidiary ComNet (USA).

China Telecom (Americas) called the US government's claims "unfounded" and that its right to operate in the US should not be revoked based solely on foreign policy concerns in the absence of any evidence of specific misconduct.

Meanwhile, China Unicom (Americas) flaunted its two-decade track record of compliance with its FCC regulatory obligations, demonstrated willingness to cooperate with US law enforcement agencies, and as a valuable contributor to US telecommunications markets.

Pacific and ComNet added that neither of them had been asked by the Chinese government to take any action that would jeopardize US national security and law enforcement interests.

According to its chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC had grave concerns about those companies' vulnerability to the exploitation, influence, and control of the Chinese Communist Party.

The Justice Department, Homeland Security, Defense, State, and Commerce Departments says that China Telecom's operations pose substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks.

The FCC granted approvals to the telcos to operate in the US around two decades ago.