Uchikura & Co., LLC

FCC May Cut Direct Links to China’s Major Telecoms — What It Really Means

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has signaled that it may restrict China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from connecting directly to U.S. telecommunications networks. While headlines suggest a dramatic “cutoff,” the reality is more measured — and more telling of the direction global communications are heading.

 

This is not an immediate shutdown. Instead, the FCC is reviewing whether these state-owned Chinese telecom companies should continue to have direct access to U.S. carrier networks. The concern is rooted in national security and regulatory compliance. Under Chinese law, telecom companies can be required to cooperate with government intelligence activities, raising questions about trust, transparency, and oversight.

 

The immediate trigger for the FCC’s action is compliance with the agency’s robocall mitigation database. Carriers must prove they can prevent illegal robocalls and maintain secure call routing. According to the FCC, the Chinese carriers have not sufficiently demonstrated that they meet these requirements or that their continued access serves the U.S. public interest.

 

If the FCC proceeds, U.S. carriers would be required to stop accepting direct voice traffic from these companies. That would likely disrupt direct international calling routes between the U.S. and China, forcing calls to be rerouted through third countries.

 

Importantly, this action does not cut off internet data traffic between the two countries. Websites, cloud services, email, and general internet connectivity would continue to operate through global networks and undersea cables. However, routing may become less efficient and more costly.

 

This move follows earlier FCC decisions to revoke U.S. operating authority from Chinese telecom subsidiaries. It reflects a broader shift toward securing communications infrastructure — even if that means less seamless global connectivity.