Security News > 2022 > September > USA adds two more Chinese carriers to 'probably a national security threat' list
The US Federal Communications Commission has added two Chinese companies to its list of communications equipment suppliers rated a threat to national security: Pacific Network Corp, its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet LLC, and China Unicom.
"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," said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The latest additions join Huawei, ZTE Corporation, radio-comms vendor Hytera, video surveillance systems Hikvision and Dahua, as well as Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, plus telecom companies China Mobile and China Telecom, who are already on the list.
The new companies earned a spot on the now ten-strong list as they are believed to be "Subject to the exploitation, influence and control of the Chinese government, and the national security risks associated with such exploitation, influence, and control." Therefore, they pose "An unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States."
ComNet and China Unicom had already been barred from operating in the USA and, by labeling them security threats, the FCC has made it plain that doing business with either is dangerous for US companies.
At a more practical level, the listing also means US buyers that shop using federal subsidies such as the FCC's $5 billion-plus Universal Service Fund are now prohibited from dealing with the the two companies.
News URL
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/09/21/fcc_puts_pacific_network_and/
Related news
- Privileged Accounts, Hidden Threats: Why Privileged Access Security Must Be a Top Priority (source)
- Chinese cyberspies, Musk’s Beijing ties, labelled ‘real risk’ to US security by senator (source)
- Facing sale or ban, TikTok tossed under national security bus by appeals court (source)
- Australian IT Pros Urged to Guard Against Chinese Cybersecurity Threats (source)
- MUT-1244 targeting security researchers, red teamers, and threat actors (source)
- Deloitte says cyberattack on Rhode Island benefits portal carries 'major security threat' (source)
- US reportedly mulls TP-Link router ban over national security risk (source)
- Are threat feeds masking your biggest security blind spot? (source)
- Week in review: MUT-1244 targets both security workers and threat actors, Kali Linux 2024.4 released (source)
- Cross-Domain Attacks: A Growing Threat to Modern Security and How to Combat Them (source)