In an 8-1 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the FCC’s authority to issue forfeiture penalties against telecommunications companies found in violation of the agency’s Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”) rules. The impact of this ruling is that the FCC may continue to enforce its rules through forfeiture orders, but that such orders do not
Continue Reading Supreme Court Upholds FCC Authority to Levy Fines Against Cellphone CarriersFCC
FCC Poised to Adopt Proposal Modernizing Spectrum Sharing to Promote Satellite Broadband
By Gerard J. Waldron & Rosie Moss on
Posted in FCC, Spectrum & Mobile
On April 9, 2026, the FCC released a draft Report and Order on “Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband.” The draft has been circulated for consideration by the FCC at its April 30, 2026 open meeting, and remains subject to change.
If adopted as expected by the Commission at its next monthly meeting, the Order…
Continue Reading FCC Poised to Adopt Proposal Modernizing Spectrum Sharing to Promote Satellite BroadbandFCC Adds Routers Produced in a Foreign Country to its Covered List
By Yaron Dori & Evan Chiacchiaro on
Posted in FCC
On March 23, 2026, the FCC added foreign-produced routers to its Covered List, following an executive branch interagency body determination that they pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States. According to the FCC, these risks include a “supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense,”…
Continue Reading FCC Adds Routers Produced in a Foreign Country to its Covered ListFCC Updates Covered List to Conditionally Approve the Use of Certain Drones
By Yaron Dori & Rosie Moss on
Posted in FCC
In late December 2025, the FCC updated its “Covered List” to add foreign-produced Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (“UAS”) and their critical components. In early January 2026, the FCC narrowed that action by creating a temporary exception for certain UAS and critical components, including those on the Department of War’s Blue UAS Cleared List.
Last week, on…
Continue Reading FCC Updates Covered List to Conditionally Approve the Use of Certain DronesFCC Proposes New Framework for Spectrum Use in Emerging Space Missions
By Gerard J. Waldron & Rosie Moss on
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr recently previewed a new Commission initiative aimed at bringing “spectrum abundance” to what he described as “weird space stuff,” a category encompassing emerging space operations such as orbital laboratories, satellite repairs, and private inhabitable spacecraft. The proposal would initiate a formal rulemaking later this month to examine how the FCC’s spectrum…
Continue Reading FCC Proposes New Framework for Spectrum Use in Emerging Space MissionsFifth Circuit Effectively Nullifies FCC “Prior Express Written Consent” Requirement, But Reach of Decision is Limited
By Yaron Dori & Rosie Moss on
On February 25, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in Bradford v. Sovereign Pest Control of TX, Inc., upheld a district court summary judgment decision that effectively nullified the FCC’s “prior express written consent” requirement for autodialed or prerecorded marketing calls to mobile numbers. The Fifth Circuit found that this…
Continue Reading Fifth Circuit Effectively Nullifies FCC “Prior Express Written Consent” Requirement, But Reach of Decision is LimitedFCC Opens Inquiry into Sports Broadcasting Practices and Marketplace Developments
The Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC” or “Commission”) Media Bureau has launched a new Public Notice (the “Notice”) seeking public comment on sports broadcasting practices and recent marketplace developments, as the distribution of live sports programming continues to evolve across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.
For decades, live sports have been closely intertwined with broadcast television…
Continue Reading FCC Opens Inquiry into Sports Broadcasting Practices and Marketplace DevelopmentsFCC Seeks Comment on Petition to Update Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Part 15 Rules
By Gerard J. Waldron & Rosie Moss on
Posted in Broadband, Cybersecurity, FCC, Innovation, Spectrum & Mobile, Technology, Telecommunications, US Government
As consumers have embraced “smart home” technology and specifically advanced locks and entryway security systems, some door lock companies have asked permission from the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) to use ultra-wideband technology (“UWB”) in their devices. UWB technology has unique characteristics that can be used to enhance entryway security systems by working with low-power Bluetooth…
Continue Reading FCC Seeks Comment on Petition to Update Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Part 15 RulesFCC “Covered List” Updated to Include Certain Drones and Related Components, Subject to an Exception
By Yaron Dori, Kiara Ortiz & Rosie Moss on
Posted in Emerging Technologies, FCC, National Security, Robotics, Technology, Telecommunications, Trade, US Government
In late December 2025, the FCC updated its “Covered List” to add foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and their critical components after an Executive Branch interagency body determined that they pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” Subsequently…
Continue Reading FCC “Covered List” Updated to Include Certain Drones and Related Components, Subject to an ExceptionFCC Issues Guidance Focused on Candidate Appearances on Talk Shows
By Matthew DelNero, Kiara Ortiz & Evan Chiacchiaro on
On January 21, 2026, the FCC’s Media Bureau released a Public Notice providing new guidance on how it will evaluate whether broadcast television stations have triggered an obligation to provide “equal opportunities” to political candidates under Section 315 of the Communications Act.
The FCC’s equal opportunities rule generally says that if a station gives…
Continue Reading FCC Issues Guidance Focused on Candidate Appearances on Talk Shows