The Federal Communications Commission is targeting Chinese cyberattacks and information operations by setting up a special national security group, the commission said in a statement.
The commission will step up the use of its regulatory power to investigate threats and enforce rules through a newly created Council for National Security within the agency, the statement said.
“Today, the country faces a persistent and constant threat from foreign adversaries, particularly the [Chinese Communist Party],” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “These bad actors are always exploring ways to breach our networks, devices and technology ecosystem.”
The growing dangers are prompting the FCC to be on guard and protect Americans and U.S. companies from the threats, he said: “Because these threats now cut across a range of sectors that the FCC regulates, it is important that the FCC’s national security efforts pull resources from a variety of FCC organizations.”
The independent commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.
Activities for the new security council will include reducing U.S. technology and telecommunications companies from relying on goods supplied by adversaries and reducing vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, espionage and surveillance by foreign adversaries.
The council also will seek to win “the strategic competition with China” in the race to develop critical technologies like as 5G and 6G telecommunications systems, artificial intelligence, satellites and space systems, quantum computing, robotics and autonomous systems, and the “internet of things,” the statement said.
China has been engaged in aggressive cyberattacks against U.S. government and private networks for decades with little or no effective response from the federal government.
The attacks have included penetrating critical infrastructure networks like the electric grid, transportation systems and water supply controls.
China also has purchased powerful radio broadcasting stations in the United States that are beaming Beijing propaganda to American audiences.
A 2024 law banned the use of the Chinese-owned popular video-sharing app TikTok, but President Trump has put off implementing the law while the owner, ByteDance, is given a chance to sell the American branch of TikTok to a U.S.-based company.
China’s government has said it will block any attempts by ByteDance to sell the app.
