Enforcement Bureau Warns 3 Chinese Telcos on National Security, Robocalls

The FCC Enforcement Bureau said three China-based voice providers have deficiencies in their Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) certifications, and allowing them to have access to those certifications could be a national security threat. The bureau gave China Telecom Global Ltd., China Unicom (Hong Kong) Operations Ltd. and China Mobile Hong Kong Co. Ltd. 14 days to explain why their inclusion in the RMD isn’t contrary to the public interest, according to orders issued Monday. The companies also must cure their RMD deficiencies or explain why they shouldn’t be removed from the database, the orders said. Removal of their certifications “would require all intermediate providers and voice service providers to cease accepting all calls” from the three companies that use North American Numbering Plan resources that pertain to the U.S. All three companies are tied to the Chinese government, the orders added. “The public interest is not served by allowing entities ‘subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government,’ that could ‘be forced to comply with Chinese government requests’ to maintain access to valuable Commission authorizations, such as an RMD certification.”