STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER JESSICA ROSENWORCEL
Re: Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC Applications and Petitions Involving 
Foreign Ownership, IB Docket No. 16-155.
It is clear that the communications industry is facing an increasingly complex future—with 
services converging and competition no longer fenced in by traditional geographic borders.  At the same 
time, the process we use at the Commission to assess foreign ownership interests has grown more opaque.  
This is not right—and not fair to the growing number of applicants requiring input regarding foreign 
investment in communications.  
Today we begin to fix this wrong with a rulemaking designed to streamline our procedures for 
companies with foreign financing.  We propose narrowing the range of applications referred to the 
Executive Branch as well as a shot-clock for its review.  We also itemize the information required when 
filing an application at the Commission and the security procedures governing that information.  These 
are smart steps and they build on our efforts last year to provide more clear-cut guidance regarding 
investment in our nation’s broadcast stations.  Moreover, I believe they can be put in place without 
compromising national security objectives.  
I look forward to the record that develops and thank our friends at the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration for kick-starting this conversation with their May 
10, 2016 letter.  Thanks also goes to my colleague Commissioner O’Rielly for pressing the importance of 
this reform.