The FREEDOM Act requires the State Department, working with the Federal Communications Commission and Treasury Department, to prepare a detailed report on internet freedom in Iran within 120 days of the bill's passage. The report will assess whether direct-to-cell wireless technologies (like satellite communications) could expand internet access for Iranian citizens, while examining potential obstacles such as drone interference and signal jamming. It will also survey Iran's current telecommunications providers to determine which are state-controlled or have foreign investment, and analyze how this ownership structure affects censorship and communications freedom. The report updates a previous assessment required by the 2025 Defense Authorization Act and will be submitted to both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee in unclassified form, though classified details can be included separately. This legislation reflects congressional interest in exploring technological solutions to support internet access and freedom of expression in Iran.
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