S. 259 · Passed Senate · Science, Technology, Communications

Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act

What it does

Requires the FCC to publish an annual list of its licensees with ties to China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.
Covers cable landing licensees and auction-won licensees in which a covered foreign entity holds a specified voting or equity interest or that a national security agency finds controlled by one.
Requires the FCC to first issue rules collecting ownership information for all other license categories, then add qualifying entities to the list.
Defines a covered entity as one organized in those four countries, a subsidiary of one, or the government of one of those countries.

Official summary

Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to annually publish a list of entities that hold a license or other authorization granted by the FCC and have ties to specified foreign countries. With respect to entities holding cable landing licenses (for the placement and operation of submarine communications cables) or other licenses granted via competitive auction, the FCC must publish a list of all such entities (1) in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest, or (2) that have been determined by a national security agency to be subject to the control of a covered entity. With respect to entities holding all other categories of FCC licenses or other authorizations, the FCC must first issue rules facilitating the collection of information on such licensees’ ownership structure. After that information is obtained, the FCC must add to the published list any such entity in which a covered entity holds a specified voting or equity interest. Under the bill, a covered entity is defined as an entity organized in China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia; a subsidiary of such an entity; or the…

Latest action

Oct 24, 2025: Held at the desk.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation