Washington: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a significant step on Thursday by advancing a proposal aimed at enhancing the security of internet transmissions. This decision came in response to revelations that a Chinese carrier had misrouted traffic, raising concerns about cybersecurity.
Since 2022, the FCC has been conducting studies on vulnerabilities within the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), a critical component of the internet’s global routing infrastructure. The proposed measure mandates broadband providers to develop BGP security plans and submit reports on their progress in mitigating risks.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel underscored the urgency of the situation, citing recent disclosures by U.S. agencies regarding China Telecom’s misuse of BGP vulnerabilities. She stated, “These ‘BGP hijacks’ can expose personal information, enable theft, extortion, and state-level espionage.”
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This move reflects Washington’s ongoing efforts to curb the activities of Chinese telecom carriers, including their involvement in undersea cables handling internet traffic and operations within the United States. However, China Telecom has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
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BGP, a crucial protocol for routing internet traffic across interconnected networks, lacks built-in security features, leaving it vulnerable to exploitation. In April, the FCC ordered several Chinese telecom companies, including China Telecom, China Unicom, China Mobile, Pacific Networks, and ComNet, to cease their broadband internet operations in the United States due to national security concerns.
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While China Telecom denied providing broadband internet access services as defined by the FCC, evidence suggests otherwise, prompting the FCC to take action to safeguard national security interests. Previously, the FCC had prohibited Chinese firms like Huawei Technologies and ZTE from supplying telecommunications equipment in the United States, citing unacceptable risks to national security.
