VI. CONCLUSION
It is well understood that the national security environment evolves over time. It is this constant evolution that highlights a major flaw with the FCC’s Section 214 authorizations: once authorized, a company can operate indefinitely without any oversight. Without proper oversight, foreign carriers operating in the United States can expose the United States to potential economic, national security, and law enforcement risks. The federal government has highlighted the potential risks associated with Chinese telecommunications carriers operating in the United States. Three particular carriers have been operating in the United States for approximately 20 years, without sufficient oversight from the FCC and the Executive Branch. Especially when dealing with state-owned telecommunications carriers, greater controls are needed, and the Administration and Congress must work together to ensure sufficient safeguards and oversight mechanisms are in place.
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