On October 29, 2026, the FCC announced a November 19 vote to bar Chinese telecom giants China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from direct access to U.S. phone numbers to curb illegal robocalls and cyber espionage. The decision follows ongoing threats from cyber group Salt Typhoon. The FCC also voted to disqualify Chinese laboratories from testing U.S. electronics by December 2028. Beijing firmly opposed the move as an abuse of state power.
Proposed FCC direct access restrictions
- ▪FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that restricting Chinese telecom providers' direct access to U.S. telephone numbers aims to strengthen defenses against illegal scam robocalls.
- ▪The proposed FCC rule changes would modify numbering authorization rules for Voice over Internet Protocol providers by requiring new national security certifications.
- ▪On October 29, 2026, the FCC announced it will vote on November 19, 2026, on a proposal to ban China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from direct access to U.S. phone numbers.
Chinese opposition to proposed restrictions
- ▪On October 30, 2026, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China firmly opposes the proposed FCC ban and accused Washington of abusing state power.
- ▪The Chinese Embassy in Washington stated that the proposed FCC ban severely hinders normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and American businesses.
FCC restrictions on Chinese telecommunications operators
- ▪The FCC has previously barred Chinese state-linked operators China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the United States.
- ▪The FCC is considering additional restrictions to bar Chinese telecom providers from connecting to U.S. networks and operating data centers in the United States.
Salt Typhoon cyber espionage threats
- ▪In 2026, the FBI stated that national security threats from Chinese cyber espionage group Salt Typhoon remain ongoing across U.S. telecommunications networks.
- ▪In late 2024, Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage group Salt Typhoon stolen U.S. consumer call records and infiltrated U.S. telecommunications infrastructure firms.
Voice over Internet Protocol technology and benefits
- ▪Direct access to U.S. phone numbers provides Voice over Internet Protocol operators lower operating costs and enables them to offer advanced communication features.
- ▪Voice over Internet Protocol technology converts voice calls into digital data and transmits it over broadband internet connections rather than traditional telephone lines.
Restrictions on foreign testing laboratories
- ▪FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that the agency could remove foreign testing laboratories before December 1, 2028, if they present national security concerns.
- ▪On October 29, 2026, the FCC voted to end recognition of foreign testing facilities lacking reciprocal agreements, phasing out Chinese electronics testing laboratories by December 1, 2028.
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