Trump administration calls for China Telecom to be barred from U.S.

The Justice Department led a group of executive branch agencies in calling on federal regulators Thursday to revoke a Chinese state-owned telecom company's permission to provide service in the U.S., citing national security concerns.

Why it matters: It's the latest crackdown from the federal government on China-based communications companies amid tensions between Washington and Beijing over a range of issues.

What's happening: Officials from the DOJ, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State and Commerce found "substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks" in reviewing China Telecom's operations in the U.S.

• They want the Federal Communications Commission to revoke a 2007 authorization letting the company provide service. China Telecom's U.S. offerings include a wireless service aimed at Chinese Americans and Chinese tourists and lines for privately transferring data internationally, according to a filing from the agencies.
• The agencies said the U.S. wing of China Telecom has failed to comply with the requirements related to the 2007 authorization, and also raised concerns about its status as a subsidiary of a state-owned enterprise.
• The company's U.S. operations offer opportunities for state actors to engage in malicious cyber activity, the Justice Department warned.

"Today, more than ever, the life of the nation and its people runs on our telecommunications networks. The security of our government and professional communications, as well as of our most private data, depends on our use of trusted partners from nations that share our values and our aspirations for humanity."

Yes, but: China Telecom denied the U.S. agencies' allegations, calling them "procedurally unprecedented" in a statement.

• "The company has always been extremely cooperative and transparent with regulators. In many instances, we have gone beyond what has been requested to demonstrate how our business operates and serves our customers following the highest international standards."

Flashback: The FCC last year voted to deny a request from China Mobile, another state-owned telecom company, to provide service in the U.S.

• "The FCC has been looking at this issue," an FCC spokesperson said in a statement. "We welcome the input of the executive branch agencies and will review it carefully." 
• GOP Commissioner Brendan Carr sought a review of China Telecom and fellow Beijing-controlled enterprise China Unicom's ability to operate in the U.S., as did Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and GOP Sen. Tom Cotton.
• "Last year, I encouraged the national security agencies to examine China Telecom and to provide us with their views on whether we should revoke their authorizations," Carr tweeted Thursday. "The evidence I saw certainly called the authorizations into question. Glad DOJ acted."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from China Telecom.