Key Points
- The FCC unanimously voted to codify long-standing foreign ownership rules for broadcast radio and TV licensees.
- The changes clarify Section 310(b) standards and aim to streamline reviews and shorten application processing times.
- Chairman Brendan Carr said the move balances foreign investment benefits with national security oversight and regulatory clarity.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted unanimously to codify certain foreign ownership regulations that have been in force for more than a decade.
The vote will give the agency a higher degree of regulatory authority when examining licensing applications and renewals for broadcast radio and television stations that are partially or entirely owned by foreign nationals and corporations.
Under the new rules, the FCC is codifying interpretations and practices developed under Section 310(b) of the Communications Act, which governs foreign ownership of FCC licensees. The Commission said the changes include clearer definitions and concepts underlying its foreign ownership rules, which are expected to help applicants provide more complete information in their initial filings.
By reducing the need for supplemental submissions, the FCC said the revisions should lead to shorter and more efficient processing times for Section 310(b) petitions. Officials at the FCC said the changes are intended to make its foreign ownership requirements clearer and more consistent, while also streamlining the review process for applicants.
All three commissioners acknowledged that foreign investment has historically played an important role in innovation, job creation and broader U.S. economic growth. At the same time, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency needed to ensure national security concerns were considered when reviewing applications for new and renewed broadcast licenses.
Carr framed the vote as part of a broader effort to eliminate unnecessary or unclear regulations. Carr pointed to the agency’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative, which aims to reduce regulatory burdens by removing outdated or uncodified requirements from the books.
Carr said the FCC has approved numerous transactions involving foreign investment over the past decade, often addressing new questions about how its foreign ownership rules should be applied. In many cases, he said, those decisions were never formally codified, creating uncertainty for regulated entities and the potential for inconsistent outcomes.
