Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has led a group of lawmakers in supporting the Trump Administration’s efforts to address the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over global telecommunications. The initiative was first reported by The Blaze.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Rubio, Secretary Lutnick, and Secretary Hegseth, Rep. Pfluger and his colleagues expressed concerns about China hosting the 2027 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-27). They discussed possible consequences and offered recommendations to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of global telecommunications leadership.
The letter stated: “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. 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 lawmakers further urged action: “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.”
The World Radiocommunication Conference is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) every three to four years. It serves as a forum for countries to discuss how radio frequencies are used worldwide. The conference also reviews international treaties that govern radio-frequency spectrum use and satellite orbits.
Decisions made at WRC impact communication methods for people, businesses, governments, emergency services, airlines, ships, satellites, and wireless device users globally. On June 27, 2025, ITU announced that Shanghai will host WRC-27.
August Pfluger has served in Congress representing Texas’s 11th District since 2021 after replacing Mike Conaway. In 2020 he won his seat by defeating Jon Mark Hogg with nearly 80% of the vote.
