WASHINGTON – Federal communications regulators announced Tuesday they are weighing restrictions that could prevent three prominent Chinese telecommunications firms from establishing data center operations on American soil while also blocking domestic carriers from establishing connections with these companies.
The Federal Communications Commission revealed it has reached a preliminary determination to stop American telecommunications providers and other carriers operating within US borders from establishing interconnections with entities included on what officials call the “Covered List” – companies deemed to present national security risks. This list includes China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.
The potential restrictions represent the latest effort by federal authorities to limit Chinese telecommunications companies’ presence in American infrastructure networks over concerns about possible security threats.
