FCC to Vote November 19 on Banning Chinese Telecom Firms From Direct Access to US Phone Numbers
The Federal Communications Commission said it will vote November 19 on a proposal to bar China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from direct access to US phone numbers, citing national security and scam robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission said on October 29 that it will vote on November 19 on a proposal to ban China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, along with other internet-based voice service providers, from direct access to U.S. phone numbers, on national security grounds. The agency said the step is also meant to cut scam robocalls.
For firms providing Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that converts voice into digital data and sends it over broadband connections, direct access is a cheaper option and makes it easier to offer advanced features, according to Reuters.
What else the FCC plans
The FCC also said it plans to bar internet voice providers that use equipment from companies on its list of firms that pose national security risks, including Huawei and ZTE. The agency added that it would ban all Chinese labs from testing U.S. electronics in December 2028 and may revoke direct number authorizations for other Chinese companies it deems to pose national security risks.
The FCC has previously barred China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the United States. Other measures under consideration include barring them from connecting to U.S. networks and from operating data centers in the country.
Why the agency cites security
Concerns about spying and other harms from Chinese access to U.S. telecom data and infrastructure have grown in recent years, Reuters reported. In late 2024, Washington said a Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage group known as Salt Typhoon stole consumers’ call records and U.S. call data and infiltrated U.S. telecommunications firms. The FBI said this year that threats from Salt Typhoon are “still very much ongoing.”
In July, the FCC added California-based Digitalsystem Technology to its list of companies posing risks to U.S. national security, citing links to Chinese telecom firms and its ownership by a Chinese national.
“With this decision, the FCC will be strengthening our first line of defense against bad actors and illegal robocallers,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately comment, Reuters reported. China has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The proposal goes to a vote on November 19.
Reporting based on coverage by Reuters.
