DOJ National Security Division Will Represent AG on 'Team Telecom' Committee

DOJ National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section will represent the attorney general on the newly formed Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector, the department said Tuesday. President Donald Trump formed the committee in a Saturday executive order to formalize the executive branch’s “Team Telecom” process for reviewing foreign takeovers of U.S. communications assets (see 2004060071). The AG will chair the committee, which also includes the secretaries of defense and homeland security. The panel will issue recommendations to the FCC. “In the digital age, our telecommunications networks are more important than ever,” said AG William Barr. “The federal government must be vigilant and ensure that a foreign adversary cannot undermine the networks.” DOJ welcomes “foreign participation in our communications system, but we must ensure that anyone licensed to do business here is a trusted partner,” said Assistant Attorney General John Demers.