The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Adam Chan on the FCC’s Growing Role in National Security
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Sep 10, 2025 Adam Chan, the first National Security Counsel at the FCC, shares insights into the agency's critical and evolving role in U.S. national security. He discusses the rise of foreign companies like Huawei as threats and the FCC's new internal council for improved coordination. Chan highlights the importance of regulating testing labs, especially those in adversarial nations, and the proposed reshoring of testing capabilities. Furthermore, he reveals upcoming initiatives focusing on technology like drones and the security of submarine cables.
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Council's Three Security Priorities
- The Council on National Security coordinates FCC bureaus to pursue three national-security goals.
- Its aims are reduce supply-chain dependency, limit cyber espionage vulnerabilities, and win technology competition.
Enforcement Guides New Rulemaking
- The Council integrates enforcement investigations with regulatory rulemaking to close loopholes.
- Enforcement probes into entities on the covered list aim to end 'end runs' around FCC rules and inform new regulations.
International Harmonization Matters
- The FCC conducts diplomatic outreach and technical engagement with international regulators and the ITU.
- Harmonizing allied rules helps secure global connectivity and counters adversary influence.