The Investigations and Hearings Division conducts investigations to root out undisclosed foreign ownership of U.S. telecommunications companies. The Investigations and Hearings Division also enforces the Commission’s rules against unauthorized transfers of control, helping to ensure that the qualifications of entities seeking to hold Commission licenses and authorizations are fully disclosed and reviewed.
Rules & Statutes
These sections of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Commission’s rules are not comprehensive but highlight some that apply to the Commission’s restrictions on foreign ownership and transfers of control.
- 47 USC 214(a) - requires telecommunications carriers to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity before constructing, extending, acquiring, or operating any line, or engaging in transmission over that line
- 47 U.S.C. § 310(a) - prohibits a foreign government or its representative from holding any radio license
- 47 U.S.C. § 310(b) - restrictions on foreign ownership or control of a broadcast, common carrier, aeronautical radio license
- 47 U.S.C. § 310(d) - assignment and transfer of radio construction permit or station license
- 47 CFR § 1.948 - assignments and transfers of authorizations in the wireless radio services
- 47 CFR § 1.5000-1.5004 - foreign ownership of broadcast, common carrier, aeronautical en route, and aeronautical fixed radio station licenses
- 47 CFR § 63.03 - streamlining procedures for domestic 214 authorizations transfer of control applications
- 47 CFR § 63.04 - filing procedures for domestic transfer of control applications
- 47 CFR § 63.24 - assignments and transfers of international 214 authorizations
Resources