Bill > S259

This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create and maintain a public list of entities that hold FCC licenses and have certain foreign ownership or control, specifically from "covered countries" (which are countries specified in a separate U.S. legal code). The bill defines a "covered entity" as the government of a covered country, an entity organized under a covered country's laws, or a subsidiary of such an entity. Within 120 days of enactment, the FCC must publish an initial online list of entities holding specific types of communications licenses where a covered entity either holds a reportable equity/voting interest or has been determined by a national security agency to exert control. The bill also mandates that within 18 months, the FCC develop rules to identify and list additional entities with foreign ownership across other types of FCC authorizations, with the full expanded list to be completed one year after those rules are issued. The FCC must update this list at least annually, and the bill exempts this information collection from standard paperwork reduction requirements. The underlying purpose appears to be increasing transparency about foreign ownership and potential influence in U.S. communications infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/259/all-info