This morning, @SenatorCarper & I released a report on how Chinese state-owned telecoms companies have operated in the US w/ a stunning lack of US gov't oversight.
This is the culmination of a yr long Senate Permanent Subcmte on Investigations probe. Here are the key takeaways:
This is the culmination of a yr long Senate Permanent Subcmte on Investigations probe. Here are the key takeaways:
1. Multiple Chinese state-owned telecom companies have been operating in the US for roughly 2 decades w little to no gov’t oversight.
This lack of scrutiny undermined the safety of American communications and seriously endangered U.S. national security...So, how did this happen?
This lack of scrutiny undermined the safety of American communications and seriously endangered U.S. national security...So, how did this happen?
2. The FCC is tasked w safeguarding the integrity of US telecoms infrastructure... but it relied on ‘Team Telecom’ - an informal interagency group consisting of DOJ, DHS & DOD officials - to evaluate and monitor national security & law enforcement risks.
3. But Team Telecom been asleep at the switch for nearly 20 years—in large part due to the fact that it lacked statutory authority and sufficient resources.
With no guards at the gate, Chinese state-owned companies have built a presence across the US w/ little-to-no oversight.
With no guards at the gate, Chinese state-owned companies have built a presence across the US w/ little-to-no oversight.
4. For instance, Team Telecom only visited China Telecom Americas & ComNet USA twice over the course of a decade. And it had no interaction with China Unicom Americas…
Remember, these are Chinese state-owned companies operating in the U.S.
Remember, these are Chinese state-owned companies operating in the U.S.
5. The lack of oversight poses a grave threat to US nat'l security.
China uses its state-owned entities in its espionage efforts targeted at the US & one of the Chinese state-owned carriers was alleged to have hijacked and rerouted data through China on several occasions.
China uses its state-owned entities in its espionage efforts targeted at the US & one of the Chinese state-owned carriers was alleged to have hijacked and rerouted data through China on several occasions.
This can not be allowed to continue. The FCC should expeditiously complete its review of the three Chinese state-owned telecom companies in the US and must establish a clear protocol for revoking authorizations if need be.
7. Telecommunications is a core tenet of nat'l & economic security. And the US govt has a responsibility to vigorously safeguard our telecoms infrastructure. In this respect, it has failed for yrs.
We must have stronger oversight to protect our telecoms networks going forward.
We must have stronger oversight to protect our telecoms networks going forward.
