Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has asked the Federal Communications Commission to audit Chinese telecommunications companies, saying they are trying to avoid U.S. sanctions over their ties to the Chinese Communist government and the threat that poses to U.S. network security.

In a letter to FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel, Rubio said the Biden administration needed to better enforce its crackdown on suspect tech and "ensure that all recently indicted Chinese firms totally discontinue U.S. services within the required time period; confirm that all Chinese telecommunication companies on the FCC’s “Covered List” – including subsidiaries or reconstituted entities intended to evade U.S. regulations – remain fully blacklisted; and conduct audits or other formal reviews of additional Chinese telecommunications companies that may pose a risk to Americans."

Also: Huawei Says FCC Ban Could Be Unconstitutional

He cited a number of reasons for his concern, including that ZTE, one of the first Chinese telecoms to be dubbed a national security threat — Huawei was the other — incurred further penalties after not adhering to U.S. orders, and Huawei spun off a smartphone line to a different Chinese government-controlled company, adding that “thus far, the Biden administration has not responded to this blatant circumvention of U.S. export controls.”

He also pointed to newer additions to the suspect tech list, including China Telecom, that were already demonstrating an unwillingness to comply with U.S. sanctions.

Back in March, the FCC added AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp., and China Mobile International USA Inc. to its “covered list” of untrusted tech.

The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act required the FCC to identify tech companies — and their subsidiaries and affiliates — whose products and/or services posed a national security threat. ■

House Republicans have added a third "pillar" to their Big Tech Accountability Platform, this one dealing with China.

The other parts of the platform, announced earlier this year, deal with responsibility and power.

House Energy & Commerce Committee ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) informed her fellow House E&C Republican members of the expansion of the Republican's Big Tech targets in a memo Wednesday (June 16).

She said they would be exploring policy solutions to issues, including vetting app stores for apps with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with an eye toward oversight of how Big Tech platforms police those stores, and concerns about China's access to American's information.

Also Read: House Big Tech Antitrust Bill Package Introduced

Among the possible solutions would be requiring companies to notify their American users if any information is stored in China or the company is owned by a Chinese entity, state-owned or otherwise.

Rodgers also said in the memo that Big Tech must do a better job of weeding counterfeit goods from China out of their online marketplaces.

"We must ensure Americans’ information is protected from the CCP, and we expect American tech companies to do more to address the significant threat China poses to the U.S.," said McMorris Rodgers in the memo.

Since the Republicans are in the minority, their policy concerns are note likely to turn into legislation. But Democrats definitely have issues both with Big Tech and China.

Building on its rejection of China Mobile USA's applications to provide telecom services between the U.S. and other countries, the FCC is suggesting other such license applications are suspect, too. 

The FCC said Friday (April 24) that it has issued "show cause" orders to China Telecom Americas, China Unicom Americas, Pacific Networks, and ComNet directing them to justify why the FCC should not start proceedings to revoke their licenses to operate in the U.S. as well. 

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The Executive Branch has recommended that China Telecom Americas' license be revoked. 

As with ZTE and Huawei, whose tech the FCC has tentatively found to be suspect and in need of replacing, the FCC's issues with China Mobile were concerns that current or potential Chinese government influence could make them a national security threat to the network security of critical 5G nets in the U.S. 

Related: Huawei Opposes FCC Rip and Replace 

Foreign entities providing telecommunications services—or seeking to provide services—in the United States must not pose a risk to our national security,” said FCC chairman Ajit Pai. “The Show Cause Orders reflect our deep concern—one shared by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and State and the U.S. Trade Representative—about these companies’ vulnerability to the exploitation, influence, and control of the Chinese Communist Party, given that they are subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned entities. We simply cannot take a risk and hope for the best when it comes to the security of our networks.” 

The companies have 30 days to respond to the FCC letters.