To further strengthen its efforts to protect America’s national security, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing more stringent certification and disclosure requirements on current and future entities holding FCC-issued licenses and other approvals.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Commission has proposed implementing new certification and information collection requirements for entities holding every type of license, permit, authorization, or other forms of approval. This represents a significant expansion of the scope of the Commission’s current information collection efforts.
In addition, the Commission says that it will require an officer of the entity holding or seeking FCC approval to “affirmatively certify that it is or is not directly or indirectly owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary.” “Foreign adversaries” on the Commission’s list include the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.
Comments on the proposed rulemaking can be filed through the end of June through the Commission’s electronic comment filing system at https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/ (reference GN Docket No. 25-166).
The FCC’s NPRM in connection with foreign licensee oversight is available at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-25-28A1.pdf.
