Foreign Corporations Managing U.S. Wireless Networks Poses Major Risks to Security; Senators Ask FCC to Identify Foreign Service Providers and Identify High-Risk Firms
 
Washington (October 20, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), with Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action in response to national security risks posed by foreign companies that manage and service U.S. wireless phone networks. 
 
Although the U.S. government has responded forcefully to risks from Chinese hardware manufacturers, including Huawei and ZTE, it has not yet accounted for risks from foreign companies that operate or maintain U.S. networks. Indeed, there is not even a comprehensive accounting of how many foreign companies provide such services to U.S. networks
 
“It is a widespread practice in the wireless industry, particularly among small rural carriers, to outsource the installation and ongoing administration of networking technology to managed service providers, some of which are based in foreign countries. Many of these foreign service providers are subject to foreign surveillance laws, and as such, could be forced to abuse their access to U.S. networks to help foreign intelligence services spy on American subscribers,” the senators wrote to Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
 
A copy of the letter can be found HERE.
 
Markey and the other senators asked the FCC to identify foreign managed service providers, and work with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and other agencies to identify high-risk firms that could threaten U.S. national security.
 

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