1SEPARATE STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON L. CLYBURN Re: Review of Foreign Ownership Policies for Broadcast, Common Carrier and Aeronautical Radio Licensees under Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended, GN Docket No. 15-236 Even before I began my term of service here at the FCC, I would often hear how the lack of access to adequate capital is preventing the broadcast industry from achieving the goals the Communications Act directs us to promote, which include serving the local information needs of communities, increasing greater diversity of media voices, and lowering barriers to entry for small businesses. That is why one of my proudest moments was circulating the Declaratory Ruling that clarified the Commission’s intent to consider, on a case-by-case basis, petitions from broadcasters to allow foreign entities to own more than 25 percent of their capital stock. I am grateful that Chairman Wheeler, at his first open meeting, gave us the opportunity to vote that item. With today's NPRM, we now begin the process of extending to broadcast licensees, more streamlined review procedures that were established for common carriers in the 2013 Foreign Ownership Order. There, the Commission determined that, with regard to common carriers such as wireless companies, we can protect important interests related to national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and trade policy while reducing regulatory burdens and costs, providing greater transparency and predictability and facilitating investment at the same time. We should be able to accomplish the same policy goals in the broadcast industry. The changes the NPRM proposes will allow a broadcast licensee to request Commission approval for its U.S. controlling parent to have 100 percent foreign ownership and for any non-controlling named foreign investor to increase its interest in the U.S. parent up to and including a non-controlling interest of 49.99 percent. We provide guidance about the type of information publicly traded companies can rely upon in determining their aggregate level of foreign ownership while also preserving the Commission’s statutory obligation, in consultation with the relevant Executive Branch agencies, to ensure that foreign ownership above the 25 percent benchmark serves the public interest. The NPRM invites parties to tell us if there is more we can do to further streamline our review of foreign investment applications and I encourage entities to take us up on the offer. I would to thank the staffs of the International and Media Bureaus for their presentations as well as their hard work on such an important item.