The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a new national security measure aimed at limiting Chinese telecom companies' access to American phone numbers and disrupting scam-related robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is scheduled to vote Nov. 19 on a proposal that could block China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and other internet-based providers from directly accessing U.S. phone numbers, Reuters reported on Thursday.
For telecom companies providing Voice over Internet Protocol, direct access is a cheaper option and makes it easier to offer advanced features, the report added. The agency said restricting that access would reinforce protections against illegal robocalls.
The agency may revoke existing direct-number authorizations for Chinese companies considered security risks, according to the report. The FCC has already prohibited the three named telecom providers from offering international telecommunications services to the U.S.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr told the publication that the decision would strengthen the agency's "first line of defense" against "bad actors and illegal robocallers."
The FCC also intends to limit providers that use equipment from companies on its national security risk list, including Huawei and ZTE. Chinese laboratories could additionally be barred from testing U.S. electronics beginning in December 2028.
China's foreign ministry said Friday that it firmly opposed the expected ban, accusing Washington of broadening national security justifications and using government authority to suppress Chinese companies.
FCC did not immediately respond to MarketDash's request for comments.
