U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) led 11 of his Republican colleagues in voicing concerns about China hosting the 2027 World Radiocommunications Conference, also known as WRC-27, and urged the Trump administration to proactively prepare for the international event.
“We must use every tool at our disposal to counter China’s influence and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of global telecommunications leadership,” wrote the members in a Sept. 17 letter sent to members of the administration.
The WRC, a major event organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is typically held every three to four years and countries come together to agree on how the world’s radio frequencies are used. The ITU announced on June 27 that China will host the WRC in Shanghai in 2027.
The WRC reviews and, if necessary, revises the international treaty known as the Radio Regulations, which governs the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits globally. Its decisions shape how people, businesses, and governments around the world communicate through wireless technologies.
“Hosting the WRC provides several significant advantages, including setting the agenda, guiding discussions, and influencing themes, thereby enabling the host country to exert substantial ‘soft’ influence over global telecommunications standards and policies,” wrote Rep. Pfluger and his colleagues. “China’s role as host thus raises concerns about potential impacts on U.S. leadership in innovation and open, secure communications.
“This, combined with the threat of espionage against government officials and participants, raises significant data security and national security concerns,” the members added.
They requested that the administration utilize the full authority of the federal government to reach a unified position early, coordinate across all federal agencies involved, advocate for support in the InterAmerican Telecommunication Commission and amongst U.S. allies, and promote an America-first approach to WRC-27.
To accomplish this, the members called it imperative that the administration take three immediate steps:
- Place senior political leadership at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, which includes nominating a U.S. Senate-confirmed ambassador to lead the group.
- Appoint a senior political leader as the campaign manager for the reelection of American Doreen Bogdan-Martin as ITU Secretary General, which will require a whole-of-government campaign to ensure American leadership continues in this role.
- Start deliberations immediately to identify the WRC-27 ambassador, who should assume the role as soon as possible to ensure the U.S. is equipped to build the necessary coalitions to achieve the desired outcome.
“Robust, effective, coordinated, and purposeful participation in WRC-27 and the working groups that precede it is an absolute necessity,” Rep. Pfluger and the lawmakers wrote. “If the United States does not engage with clear, unified positions, we risk being overtaken by our adversaries.
“Our leadership in technology and innovation is at risk, and our allies may increasingly turn to China for telecommunications solutions, eroding our influence and compromising shared security interests,” added the members, who also included U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Kat Cammack (R-FL).