For many years, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has relied on an interagency review process for considering national security, foreign policy, and trade policy issues when considering foreign investments in many regulated organizations. This process is known as “Team Telecom.” As a result of an executive order issued in April 2020 and an FCC report and order issued in October 2020, this process has been formalized and streamlined under the new Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector.
Vinson & Elkins’ national security practitioner Rick Sofield and commercial litigator Crystal Stapley explain what Team Telecom is, and discuss Team Telecom’s power to review and advise on transactions implicating the telecommunications sector.