FCC to Launch 6G Task Force, But Chair Gets Final Say on Who’s ‘Trusted’ Enough to Join

The FUTURE Networks Act is setting the stage for the next big leap in wireless technology—6G. This bill mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) establish a new 6G Task Force within 120 days of the law taking effect. The Task Force’s main job is to spend the next year studying the current status of 6G standards, figuring out its potential uses and limitations, and then reporting those findings to Congress and the public via the Federal Register.

The Future of Connectivity: What the Task Force Will Study

Think of this Task Force as the early warning system for the next generation of mobile connectivity. They aren't just looking at faster speeds; they are tasked with examining how 6G standards are being set by industry groups and how this technology will actually be used. For instance, they need to report on how federal, state, local, and tribal governments can coordinate on infrastructure siting—that’s policy-speak for figuring out where to put all the new towers and antennas. For anyone living in a rural area where getting a new cell tower is already a bureaucratic nightmare, the Task Force’s recommendations on better coordination could potentially speed up deployment and close the digital divide faster than 5G did.

The Gatekeeper Clause: Who Gets a Seat at the Table

Here’s where the policy gets spicy. The FCC Chair is solely responsible for appointing all members of this Task Force, which must include representatives from industry, public interest groups, universities, and all four levels of government. However, the bill grants the Chair explicit authority to exclude representatives from communications companies or public interest groups if the Chair deems them “not trusted.” An entity is labeled “not trusted” if the Chair publicly determines it is owned, controlled, or influenced by a foreign adversary, or otherwise poses a threat to U.S. national security. This determination must use the specific security criteria already established in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Section 2(c)(1) through (4)).

Real-World Stakes of Being “Not Trusted”

This “not trusted” clause is a big deal because it concentrates significant power in the hands of the FCC Chair. While the intent is clearly to protect national security interests—ensuring foreign adversaries don't influence future U.S. network development—it also means the Chair has the power to silence specific industry voices or public interest groups that might be critical of the FCC's direction simply by labeling them a security threat. For a communications company, being excluded from the table means losing influence over the foundational policy that will shape their business for the next decade. For the public, it means the Task Force might miss out on crucial input from diverse stakeholders, potentially leading to a less comprehensive or less equitable national 6G strategy.

Transparency and the Public’s Role

Despite the centralized appointment power, the Task Force does have to offer some transparency. They must release a draft of their comprehensive report within 180 days of being established. Crucially, they must accept public comments on that draft and consider those comments before publishing the final report. This means that even if certain groups are excluded from the Task Force itself, the public still gets a chance to weigh in on the findings that will eventually guide the government’s approach to 6G technology.