The FCC has released a public notice seeking comment on the impact of Executive Order 13913 on the proposals originally introduced in the Executive Branch Proceeding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The 2016 NPRM proposed changes to how the Commission refers certain applications with reportable foreign ownership to Executive Branch agencies, including “Team Telecom,” consisting of the Department of Justice , the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump’s recent Executive Order 13913 establishes a “committee” comprised of representatives from all three Team Telecom departments, and the committee’s stated responsibility is to “assist” the FCC in the agency’s review of applications involving foreign ownership. Additionally, Executive Order 13913 changes some of the application review processes and timelines historically adhered to by Team Telecom in its oversight role. Comments are due 30 days after the public notice is published in the Federal Register, and reply comments are due 44 days after its publication.
