Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act
- Bill Number
- S. 259
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-24: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T04:11:34Z
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 government of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-24: Held at the desk.
- 2025-10-24: Received in the House.
- 2025-10-23: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-10-23: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7734; text: CR S7734)
- 2025-10-23: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- 2025-07-09: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 110.
- 2025-07-09: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-36.
- 2025-07-09: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-36.
- 2025-04-30: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-01-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-01-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act — issued 2025-10-23 — PDF (6 pages)
- Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act — issued 2025-01-27 — PDF (5 pages)
- Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act — issued 2025-07-09 — PDF (6 pages)