Summary of the FREEDOM Act (S. 3360)

Overview

The FREEDOM Act, or the "Feasibility Review of Emerging Equipment for Digital Open Media Act", is a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on December 4, 2025. The main purpose of the bill is to require the U.S. Department of State, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of the Treasury, to prepare and submit a report on internet freedom in Iran.

Key Provisions

The bill includes the following key provisions:

1. Report Requirement: Within 120 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of State must submit a report to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This report will update and supplement the report previously required under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

2. Additional Report Contents: The updated report must include the following additional information:

   • An assessment of the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless communications technologies to expand internet access in Iran, including technical, regulatory, and security considerations.
   • An analysis of how drone-based platforms, signal jamming technologies, and related countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security, economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell wireless communications.
   • A survey of terrestrial and non-terrestrial telecommunications service providers currently active in Iran, including whether they are state-owned or state-controlled, the extent of foreign participation or investment, and the implications for communications freedom and censorship.
   • Any other relevant information to assess the opportunities and risks associated with terrestrial and non-terrestrial communications technologies in Iran.

3. Report Form: The report must be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

Potential Impact

The FREEDOM Act aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state of internet freedom in Iran and the feasibility of using emerging communications technologies to expand internet access for the Iranian people. This report could inform future policymaking and efforts to support internet freedom and access in Iran.

The bill's focus on direct-to-cell wireless technologies, drone-based platforms, and an analysis of telecommunications providers in Iran suggests a potential interest in exploring alternative methods of providing internet access that may be more resilient to censorship and control by the Iranian government.

Overall, the FREEDOM Act represents a congressional effort to gather more information and better understand the landscape of internet freedom and access in Iran.