The US Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it is ordering the US units of China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile to discontinue fixed or mobile broadband internet operations in the United States.
The FCC said it was requiring the Chinese carriers to discontinue services within 60 days of the effective date of the net neutrality order approved on Thursday.
The order also applies to Chinese company Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet.
The commission previously had barred the companies from providing telecommunications services.
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Huawei launches new legal action against FCC’s rural carrier purchase ban
Huawei launches new legal action against FCC’s rural carrier purchase ban
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said on Thursday the commission had evidence Chinese telecoms carriers were providing broadband services in the United States.
The FCC had cited national security concerns in revoking or denying Chinese companies the right to provide US telecommunications services.
The FCC had said Chinese telecoms firms were “subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government”.
US revives controversial web rules Trump worked to quash
US revives controversial web rules Trump worked to quash
This is the latest action by Washington to restrict Chinese telecoms carriers including on undersea cables handling internet traffic.
The FCC previously barred approvals of new telecommunications equipment from China’s Huawei Technologies and ZTE and other companies saying they pose “an unacceptable risk” to US national security.
