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119-hr-10453119th CongressWALLET

Communications and Technology Transparency Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

Introduced

Summary

Redefines and tightens who and what counts as risky foreign tech by swapping 'communications equipment or service' for 'information and communications technology or service (ICTS)'. It also rewrites the rules for adding, monitoring, and removing items on a federal covered list and limits some regulatory approvals for firms tied to those ICTS.

Show full summary
  • Companies that produce or provide ICTS and their affiliates would face a broad ban on obtaining or holding many Federal Communications Commission authorizations, with a narrow exception for certain equipment authorizations. This restricts market access for covered entities.
  • The Commission would have to refresh the covered list at least every 6 months, monitor agency determinations, and remove technologies within 180 days when an agency reverses a prior risk finding under specified conditions. Pre-listing protections shield equipment authorizations granted before an item is listed.
  • Listing would require a 7-day pre-listing report to Congress and could trigger Congressional Review Act treatment when categories are named. The bill also forces tighter interagency coordination with 90-day meetings, a 60-day risk-notice deadline, and an annual unclassified report to Congress.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Ban FCC authorizations for covered entities

This bill would bar any covered entity—a producer or provider of covered ICTS and its affiliates—from obtaining, holding, or controlling FCC authorizations or licenses. The rule would not apply to equipment authorizations under subpart J of part 2. The FCC would not be required to review or revoke an equipment authorization if it was granted before the equipment was placed on the covered list. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

Limit listings to foreign-adversary firms

This bill would bar the FCC from placing an ICTS on the covered list unless the ICTS is produced or provided by an entity controlled by a "foreign adversary." The bill ties the term "foreign adversary" to the meaning of "covered nation" in 10 U.S.C. 4872(f)(2). This rule would apply on and after enactment.

Regular interagency review and fast removals

This bill would require the FCC and Secretary of Commerce to meet within 90 days of enactment and every 90 days after that. The FCC would update the covered list at least every 6 months and send an annual unclassified report to Congress starting one year after the first meeting. If an agency reverses a prior determination, the Assistant Secretary would notify the FCC and, after notice and comment and if no other basis remains, the FCC would remove the ICTS within 180 days.

New listing rules and Congressional review

This bill would change how the FCC adds or removes ICTS from the covered list. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce must send written notice before a Commerce determination can be used. Within 60 days of that notice, the FCC must send it to the Secretary of Commerce for review under part 791. The FCC and any agency that relied on a determination would have to give Congress an unclassified report at least 7 days before placing an ICTS on the list. If the FCC lists or removes a whole class of ICTS (not a specific firm), that action would count as a "major rule" and get special Congressional Review Act review.

Define ICTS and protect existing listings

The bill would replace the term "communications equipment or service" with "information and communications technology or service" across the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act and define that term by reference to 15 C.F.R. 791.2. The bill would also say any ICTS already on the covered list before enactment stays on the list and is not changed by these amendments. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

NJ • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]

    KY • R

    Sponsored 9/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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