G’day, Listeners: Aussies Can Own AMs, FMs

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By Adam R Jacobson
RBR + TVBR


A husband and wife who are not U.S. citizens but have been living in Alaska since 2006 have become the first foreigners to obtain FCC approval for 100% ownership of an AM or FM radio station.

In a Memorandum Opinion and Order and Declaratory Ruling released late Thursday by the FCC’s Media Bureau, 29 licenses held by four separate licensees can be transferred to the couple’s Frontier Media — a move that exceeds the 25% foreign indirect ownership benchmark by 75%.

In making its decision, FCC Media Bureau Acting Chief Michelle Carey ruled that the unopposed petition from Richard and Sharon Burns — the sole owners of Frontier Media — “will serve the public interest.”

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