In connection with its recommendation to revoke CTA's Section 214 authorizations, Team Telecom noted that, despite CTA not being involved in the misdirection, the Nigerian-China Telecom error was "amplified" by China Telecom's presence in the United States, as it promoted false routes to U.S. carriers, thereby causing U.S. communications to be routed through China. [1]
When asked about these allegations, CTA explained to the Subcommittee that the allegations were "misleading" and "lack [ed] context about the reality of internet routing today."[2] CTA added that routing problems are common and occur on all networks, despite the best efforts of responsible operators.[3] Further, CTA maintained that "erroneous route information propagated to [China Telecom] by other networks was the cause of several [of the] incidents" referenced above and in Team Telecom's recommendation to revoke and terminate CTA's Section 214 authorizations.[4]
b. Despite Nearly a Decade of Allegations, Team Telecom Did Not Probe the Issue until January 2019
Allegations of hijacking involving China Telecom date back to 2010; however, Team Telecom did not question CTA about these reports until January 2019. Almost a year after its last site visit, Team Telecom sent written interrogatories to CTA, asking it to formally respond to the hijacking allegations, particularly those detailed in the 2018 paper from researchers at the U.S. Naval War College and Tel Aviv University.[5] CTA denied the allegations, arguing that it had never engaged in hijacking and had no incentive to do so.[6] CTA also noted that the public allegations contained no evidence of intentional or malicious wrongdoing.[7] As it did in conversations with the Subcommittee, CTA informed Team Telecom that certain of the public allegations were caused by other networks' erroneous route information that passed through China Telecom's networks.[8]
Team Telecom appears to have relied on CTA's written representations regarding the alleged incidents. Team Telecom provided no records or explanation of it conducting further interviews, requesting or reviewing additional documentation, or otherwise questioning CTA's assertions.
- ↑ Executive Branch Recommendation re CTA, supra note 56, at 49-50.
- ↑ Letter from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to CTA, to the Subcommittee (June 2, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ TT-DOJ-264-69.
- ↑ Id.
- ↑ Id. See also Letter from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel to CTA, to the Subcommittee (June 2, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ TT-DOJ-264-69.
Alleged "Hijacking Internet Traffic" (Nov. 22, 2018), https://www.chinatelecom-h.com/en/media/news/p181122.php.
68
