Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act would require the Federal Communications Commission to create and publish annual lists identifying companies and organizations that hold FCC licenses or authorizations and have connections to China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia. This would apply to entities organized in these countries, their subsidiaries, or their governments.

For certain high-security licenses like those for submarine communications cables, the FCC would list all entities in which a covered foreign entity holds significant voting or equity interests, or that have been determined by national security agencies to be controlled by such entities. For other types of FCC licenses, the FCC would first need to establish rules to collect information about ownership structures before adding entities to the published lists.

If enacted, this bill would increase transparency about foreign involvement in U.S. communications infrastructure and licensing. Citizens and businesses would be able to see which licensed communications companies have ties to these specified foreign adversaries. The bill has passed the House and is currently under review in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

The practical impact would primarily affect the communications and technology sectors, potentially influencing business relationships and investment decisions involving licensed entities. The bill aims to address national security concerns related to foreign control of critical communications infrastructure.