---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 C.F.R. § 20.5"
title: "47"
number: "20.5"
heading: "Citizenship."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/47/20.5"
---

# §20.5. Citizenship.

- (a) This rule implements section 310 of the Communications Act, [47 U.S.C. 310](/usc/47/310.md), regarding the citizenship of licensees in the commercial mobile radio services. Commercial mobile radio service authorizations may not be granted to or held by:
  - (1) Any foreign government or any representative thereof;
  - (2) Any alien or the representative of any alien;
  - (3) Any corporation organized under the laws of any foreign government;
  - (4) Any corporation of which more than one-fifth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens or their representatives or by a foreign government or representative thereof or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country; or
  - (5) Any corporation directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than one-fourth of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens, their representatives, or by a foreign government or representative thereof, or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country, if the Commission finds that the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license.
- (b) The limits listed in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section may be exceeded by eligible individuals who held ownership interests on May 24, 1993, pursuant to the waiver provisions established in [section 332(c)(6)](/cfr/47/332.md?p=c-6) of the Communications Act. Transfers of ownership to any other person in violation of [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section are prohibited.

## Notes

### Amendments

[59 FR 18495, Apr. 19, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 55580, Oct. 28, 1996]

### Authority

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 152(a), 154(i), 155, 157, 160, 201, 214, 222, 251(e), 301, 302a, 303, 303(b), 303(r), 307, 307(a), 309, 309(j)(3), 316, 316(a), 332, 610, 615, 615a, 615b, and 615c, unless otherwise noted.

### Source

Source: 59 FR 18495, Apr. 19, 1994, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[59 FR 18495, Apr. 19, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 55580, Oct. 28, 1996]