U.S. gov adds more Chinese Telecom firms to the Covered List

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added more Chinese telecom firms to the Covered List.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added Pacific Network Corp, ComNet (USA) LLC, and China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited, to the Covered List.

The Covered List, published by Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau published, included products and services that could pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.

These letters explain that the above companies are subject to the exploitation, influence and control of the Chinese government, and the national security risks associated with such exploitation, influence, and control.

The US government believes the government of Beijing could force the company to conduct malicious activities, such as intercepting and misrouting communications, to gather intelligence against the U.S..

“The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today added equipment and services from two entities – Pacific Network Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC and China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited – to its list of communications equipment and services that have been deemed a threat to national security.” reads the announcement published by the FCC. “Today we take another critical step to protect our communications networks from foreign national security threats,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Earlier this year the FCC revoked China Unicom America’s and PacNet/ComNet’s authorities to provide service in the United States because of the national security risks they posed to communications in the United States. Now, working with our national security partners, we are taking additional action to close the door to these companies by adding them to the FCC’s Covered List. This action demonstrates our whole-of-government effort to protect network security and privacy.”

The Executive Branch entities warn that PacNet/ComNet’s interconnections to U.S. telecommunications networks and customers could be exploited by China to conduct or to increase economic espionage and collect intelligence against the United States, or “otherwise provide a strategic capability to target, collect, alter, block, and re-route network traffic.”

In March 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added multiple Kaspersky products and services to its Covered List saying that they pose unacceptable risks to U.S. national security.

The US commission also added Chinese state-owned mobile service providers China Mobile International USA and China Telecom Americas to the list. Below is the list of Covered Equipment or Services added on March 25, 2022:

• Information security products, solutions, and services supplied, directly or indirectly, by AO Kaspersky Lab or any of its predecessors, successors, parents, subsidiaries, or affiliates.
• International telecommunications services provided by China Mobile International USA Inc. subject to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934.
• Telecommunications services provided by China Telecom (Americas) Corp. subject to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934.

The Covered List also includes other Chine companies, such as Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, and Dahua Technology Company.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Covered List)

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