(a) The Commission, in its discretion, may refer applications, petitions, and other filings to the executive branch for review for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and/or trade policy concerns.

(1) The Commission will generally refer to the executive branch applications filed for an international section 214 authorization and submarine cable landing license as well as an application to assign, transfer control of, or modify those authorizations and licenses where the applicant has reportable foreign ownership and petitions for section 310(b) foreign ownership rulings for broadcast, common carrier wireless, and common carrier satellite earth station licenses pursuant to §§1.767, 63.18 and 63.24 of this chapter, and 1.5000 through 1.5004.

(2)-(3) [Reserved]

(b) The Commission will consider any recommendations from the executive branch on pending application(s) for an international section 214 authorization or cable landing license(s) or petition(s) for foreign ownership ruling(s) pursuant to §§1.5000 through 1.5004 or on existing authorizations or licenses that may affect national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and/or trade policy as part of its public interest analysis. The Commission will evaluate concerns raised by the executive branch and will make an independent decision concerning the pending matter.

(c) In any such referral pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or when considering any recommendations pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the Commission may disclose to relevant executive branch agencies, subject to the provisions of 44 U.S.C. 3510, any information submitted by an applicant, petitioner, licensee, or authorization holder in confidence pursuant to §0.457 or §0.459 of this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of §0.442 of this chapter, notice will be provided at the time of disclosure.

(d) As used in this subpart, “reportable foreign ownership” for applications filed pursuant to §§1.767 and 63.18 and 63.24 of this chapter means any foreign owner of the applicant that must be disclosed in the application pursuant to §63.18(h); and for petitions filed pursuant to §§1.5000 through 1.5004 “reportable foreign ownership” means foreign disclosable interest holders pursuant to §1.5001(e) and (f).