diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/migrations/__init__.py b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/migrations/__init__.py
rename to common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/__init__.py
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/migrations/0001_initial.py b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/migrations/0001_initial.py
similarity index 100%
rename from lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/migrations/0001_initial.py
rename to common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/migrations/0001_initial.py
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/migrations/__init__.py b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/migrations/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/models.py
similarity index 100%
rename from lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/models.py
rename to common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/models.py
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/utils.py b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9753591c5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/djangoapps/django_comment_common/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from django_comment_common.models import Role
+
+
+def seed_permissions_roles(course_id):
+    administrator_role = Role.objects.get_or_create(name="Administrator", course_id=course_id)[0]
+    moderator_role = Role.objects.get_or_create(name="Moderator", course_id=course_id)[0]
+    community_ta_role = Role.objects.get_or_create(name="Community TA", course_id=course_id)[0]
+    student_role = Role.objects.get_or_create(name="Student", course_id=course_id)[0]
+
+    for per in ["vote", "update_thread", "follow_thread", "unfollow_thread",
+                "update_comment", "create_sub_comment", "unvote", "create_thread",
+                "follow_commentable", "unfollow_commentable", "create_comment", ]:
+        student_role.add_permission(per)
+
+    for per in ["edit_content", "delete_thread", "openclose_thread",
+                "endorse_comment", "delete_comment", "see_all_cohorts"]:
+        moderator_role.add_permission(per)
+
+    for per in ["manage_moderator"]:
+        administrator_role.add_permission(per)
+
+    moderator_role.inherit_permissions(student_role)
+
+    # For now, Community TA == Moderator, except for the styling.
+    community_ta_role.inherit_permissions(moderator_role)
+
+    administrator_role.inherit_permissions(moderator_role)
\ No newline at end of file