US revokes 2 Chinese firms' authority to provide telecom services

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) – The US' Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoked on Wednesday two Chinese companies' authority to provide telecommunications services in the country.

The FCC said in a statement that it ended the ability of Pacific Networks Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the US.

The move "safeguards the nation's telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats," it noted.

The FCC said the two companies "had failed to dispel serious concerns" regarding their retention of their authority to provide telecommunications services in the US.

It also found that the companies are US subsidiaries of a Chinese state-owned entity, and therefore they are subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government and are highly likely to be forced to comply with the Chinese government.

China's Commerce Ministry, in response, said, "the US should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies and its wrongdoing of politicizing economic and trade issues," public broadcaster CGTN said on Twitter.

"China will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," it added.