The FCC has adopted a new Report and Order requiring broadcast licensees to audit and disclose any ownership stakes held by “foreign adversaries”. The rule, released on January 29 and set to take effect in late March, demands that station owners certify whether entities from specific nations—including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—hold any interest in their licenses.
The order establishes a new “foreign adversary control” definition, covering any entity owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction of these nations. Broadcasters will be required to submit these attestations through a centralized reporting system. The move is part of a broader Commission effort to tighten national security regarding communications infrastructure.