authority, once an application was removed from streamlining, Team Telecom had no deadline by which it had to make a final recommendation to the FCC.[1] Therefore, the process could—and did—last years. In response to an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking, telecommunications companies claimed that applications referred to Team Telecom took up to four times longer to process than other applications.[2] As discussed more below, China Mobile USA applied for Section 214 authorization in September 2011, but Team Telecom did not recommend that the FCC deny that application until July 2018.[3]
Current officials recognize that Team Telecom has suffered from a lack of statutory authority.[4] Although the Department of Justice served as the unofficial lead, Team Telecom had no formal chair or spokesperson.[5] Further, both internally and externally, Team Telecom had to work with agencies that had conflicting responsibilities and mission areas.[6] This often led to interagency delay in decision making.[7] As one Team Telecom component agency characterized, "responsibility without authority is problematic."[8]
Team Telecom's review process also suffered from a lack of staff dedicated to reviewing applications. DHS officials estimated that the Office of Policy, which represents DHS on Team Telecom, has had, at most, only two employees designated to Team Telecom; these employees are responsible for all aspects of the Team Telecom portfolio, including reviewing applications and monitoring compliance with security agreements.[9] DOJ historically dedicated only one attorney to Team
- ↑ See Briefing with the Dep't of Homeland Sec. (Feb. 7, 2020).
- ↑ Comments of Telecommunications Companies, IB Docket No. 16-155, at 4 (May 23, 2016) ("FCC applications requiring referral to Team Telecom . . . take three to four times longer to receive approval than applications not subject to this review.").
- ↑ See Int'l Bureau Selected Applications Listing, File No. ITC-214-20110901-00289, Fed. Commc'ns Comm'n, http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/ib/forms/reports/swr031b.hts?q_set=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number/%3D/ITC2142011090100289&prepare=&column=V_SITE_ANTENNA_FREQ.file_numberC/File+Number.
- ↑ Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Aug. 1, 2019); Briefing with the Dep't of Homeland Sec. (Feb. 7, 2020); Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Apr. 3, 2020); Email from the Dep't of Justice to the Subcommittee (June 3, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Aug. 1, 2019); Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Apr. 3, 2020); Email from the Dep't of Justice to the Subcommittee (June 3, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Aug. 1, 2019); Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Apr. 3, 2020); Email from the Dep't of Justice to the Subcommittee (June 3, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ Cf. Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Aug. 1, 2019); Briefing with the Dep't of Justice (Apr. 3, 2020).
- ↑ Email from the Dep't of Justice to the Subcommittee (June 3, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
- ↑ Briefing with the Dep't of Homeland Sec. (Feb. 7, 2020). This does not account for employees from other DHS offices, such as the Office of General Counsel, who assist on Team Telecom matters. See Email from Dep't of Homeland Sec. to the Subcommittee (June 4, 2020) (on file with the Subcommittee).
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