What FCC finding in 2021 drove the China Telecom revocation?

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FCC Finding in 2021 Drove China Telecom Revocation

A US federal appeals court has upheld a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order that revoked China Telecom (Americas)' authority to operate in the United States. This decision was driven by findings in 2021 that the company was susceptible to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government, posing national security risks. These risks included potential for state-sponsored cyber activities such as economic espionage and the disruption of US communications.
National Security Agency Recommendations Cited

The FCC's decision to revoke China Telecom's operating authority was based on recommendations from national security agencies. These agencies identified that China Telecom's operations within the US presented opportunities for Chinese state-sponsored cyber activities. Such activities were specifically noted to include economic espionage and the disruption or misrouting of US communications traffic.
Concerns Over Chinese Telecom Operations

The FCC has increasingly expressed concerns regarding Chinese telecommunications companies operating in the United States. China Telecom had held authorization to provide US telecommunications services for two decades prior to the revocation. In 2019, the company reported over 335 million subscribers globally and had provided services to Chinese government facilities located within the United States.
Broader Regulatory Actions Against Chinese Firms

The revocation of China Telecom's authority is part of a wider pattern of regulatory actions by the US against Chinese telecommunications firms. In November, the FCC banned new telecommunications equipment approvals from Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE, citing "unacceptable risk" to US national security. Previously, in 2019, the FCC had denied China Mobile Ltd the right to provide US services and subsequently withdrew authorizations for several other Chinese telecom carriers.

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What FCC finding in 2021 drove the China Telecom revocation?

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