FCC Proposes Rule to Identify Foreign Adversary Ownership in US Communications

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a rule aimed at exposing any communications license or authorization held by entities controlled by a foreign adversary. The four-member commission voted unanimously on May 22 to issue the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, released to the public on May 27. Under the plan, carriers, broadcasters, satellite operators, spectrum lessees, test labs, antenna owners, and other FCC-regulated entities would have to certify whether a foreign adversary—defined as China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—owns, controls, or directs them. The agency said the resulting disclosures would give regulators and the public “a new and comprehensive view of threats from foreign adversaries” inside U.S. networks....