# The TEAM TELECOM Act: What It Does

The TEAM TELECOM Act creates a new national security review process for certain telecommunications deals involving foreign ownership. When a company wants to get approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for things like building new phone lines, laying submarine cables, or transferring broadcast licenses, and that company has significant foreign ownership, the deal now has to go through an extra security check before the FCC can approve it.

Here's how it works in practice: If a telecommunications company with substantial foreign investors applies for FCC approval on certain types of projects, the company's application gets automatically referred to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The NTIA then coordinates with multiple federal agencies—including the Defense Department, FBI, Homeland Security, and others—to evaluate whether the foreign ownership poses any national security or law enforcement concerns. These agencies have 120 days to complete their review, though they can extend it by another 45 days if needed. During this time, they'll ask the company detailed questions about its ownership structure, operations, and other relevant information, and the company has 10 days to respond.

The review process results in a recommendation to either approve the deal, approve it with certain conditions attached, or deny it. If the NTIA and other agencies can't agree on a recommendation, the President makes the final call. The company gets notified of the decision within three days, and if they ask for a status update, they must receive one within five days. The bill also requires the NTIA to publish a standardized list of questions online so companies know what information to prepare. Essentially, this adds a security checkpoint to certain telecom deals, making sure foreign ownership doesn't create vulnerabilities in America's communications infrastructure.

TEAM TELECOM Act

Johnson, Bill

Timely Evaluation of Acquisitions, Mergers, or Transactions with External, Lawful Entities to Clear Owners and Management Act or the TEAM TELECOM Act This bill provides statutory authority for the interagency working group at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that assesses and addresses the law enforcement and national security policy implications arising from foreign ownership in an applicant for certain telecommunications licenses and permits. Such applications are those for (1) authorization to construct or extend, acquire or operate, or engage in transmission by means of a line (i.e., any channel of communication established by the use of appropriate equipment); (2) a submarine cable landing license or its assignment or transfer; or (3) a new construction permit or station license (or for the transfer, assignment, or disposal of an existing permit or license).