Key facts
- Trump Mobile may be operating international calling services without FCC authorization.
- The company and its partner Liberty Mobile Wireless have not submitted complete robocall mitigation plans.
- Hackers stole personal data of 3,615 Trump Mobile customers following a vendor data breach.
- Senator Maggie Hassan questioned Trump Mobile's security and compliance with FCC filing rules.
- Trump Mobile's phone is reportedly a near-exact match for the HTC U24 Pro, manufactured in China.
Senator Maggie Hassan has raised significant concerns regarding Trump Mobile's compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, questioning its authorization for international calling services and its adherence to rules designed to combat robocalls and safeguard mobile services.
In a letter addressed to Trump Mobile CEO Patrick O’Brien, Hassan stated that the company appears to lack the necessary FCC authorization under Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934 to provide international telecommunications services. The senator also pointed out that Trump Mobile and its key partner, Liberty Mobile Wireless, have not submitted complete plans for fighting robocalls, a requirement for carriers.
Hassan's inquiry follows a report of a data breach where hackers stole personal data of 3,615 customers, and Trump Mobile's prior confirmation that a vendor exposed customer data online. The senator alleged that the company's apparent failure to follow FCC filing rules raises questions about the security of its services, who is providing its international services, and the company's commitment to national security.
"The apparent absence of authorization for Trump Mobile international services raises questions about who is providing or reselling the international telecommunications services advertised by Trump Mobile, the authority under which those services are being provided, and the company’s commitment to complying with requirements designed to safeguard national security," Hassan wrote.
Further compounding concerns, Hassan noted that Trump Mobile and Liberty Mobile Wireless seem to have weak scam prevention efforts and do not appear to have included a description of their 'know-your-customer' (KYC) processes in their robocall mitigation plans. Liberty Mobile's most recent filing reportedly lacks KYC information, and no filings were found for Trump Mobile or its operational business name, T1 Mobile LLC, in the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database.
Hassan also questioned Trump Mobile's ties to Liberty Mobile, which officials previously described as the "enabler" and "backbone" of Trump Mobile, handling much of its technical, legal, and financial operations. The senator asked whether Trump Mobile owns, operates, or controls Liberty Mobile.
The Trump Mobile T1 phone, which Trump Mobile advertises as enabling calls to over 230 countries, is reportedly a near-exact match for the HTC U24 Pro, a phone manufactured in China. The phone's price increased from $499 to $749, and preorders shipped nearly a year late.
Hassan requested a response from O’Brien by October 29, seeking details on the data breach, ownership structure, relationship with Liberty Mobile, subscriber verification systems, FCC compliance, device sales, and the origin of phone parts.