IRAN Act

(a) FCC consideration required in granting new licenses, license modifications, and grants of market access. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in granting on or after the date of the enactment of this Act any license, license modification, or grant of market access for the provision of DTC communications or other satellite communications, the Federal Communications Commission (in this section referred to as the Commission) shall consider encouraging the licensee or grantee to refrain from intentionally disabling, degrading, or geoblocking DTC communications or other satellite communications coverage of Iran, except—

(1) to the extent specifically required by Federal law, an order of the Commission, or an international coordination agreement designed solely to prevent harmful interference; or

(2) for a limited period necessary to mitigate an imminent threat to the integrity or security of the network of the licensee or grantee, if normal coverage is restored as soon as practicable.

(b) International advocacy. It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Commission, should oppose at the International Telecommunication Union or any successor body any proposal that would compel or encourage geographic exclusion of Iran specifically from DTC communications or other satellite communications coverage provided by operators that hold licenses or grants of market access granted by the Commission.

(c) Reporting requirement. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on—

(1) actions taken pursuant to subsection (b); and

(2) in coordination with the Commission—

(A) any known instances in which a DTC communications or other satellite communications operator that holds a license or grant of market access granted by the Commission intentionally excluded coverage of Iran; and

(B) the basis for any exclusion described in subparagraph (A).