(Just The News)—A bill requiring public disclosure of companies with U.S. telecommunications licenses tied to foreign adversaries advanced through a House committee this week, reflecting growing concerns over national security threats from foreign-controlled entities.
The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act aims to enhance national security by requiring the Federal Communications Commission to publish annually a list of entities holding FCC licenses owned or controlled by governments such as China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela or Cuba.
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., introduced the legislation, which has garnered bipartisan support. Lawmakers have emphasized the need to safeguard the U.S. telecommunications systems from potential foreign influence.
Until now, there has been no mandated public disclosure of companies with such ties, despite concerns that entities linked to adversarial governments continue to operate within U.S. telecommunications networks. Supporters of the bill say greater transparency is necessary to close that gap.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure by voice vote on April 8.
“The Chinese Communist Party is using every tool at its disposal to conduct a coordinated campaign to surveil and collect information on Americans,” Wittman said in a statement. “My FACT Act will help shine a light on the malign access and influence CCP-controlled companies have inside our technology and telecommunications markets. I look forward to building on this momentum so we can stop foreign adversaries from having unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., initially introduced the bill in 2022 and reintroduced it in 2023, saying it sends a clear message to foreign adversaries that Congress is committed to securing critical infrastructure.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr previously praised the bill, calling it a “smart and important move to further secure America’s telecom infrastructure from the CCP and other foreign adversaries’ malign conduct.”
In addition to Wittman and Stefanik, Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., Thomas Kean, R-N.J., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., cosponsored the legislation.
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
