FCC

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 Broadband

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 List

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 Drones

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 Missions

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 Limited

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 Developments

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 Rules

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 Exception

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

On January 9, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to resolve a circuit split over the FCC’s authority to impose monetary forfeiture penalties through its administrative process.  The outcome could have significant implications for the FCC’s ability to pursue civil penalties in its enforcement cases.  For more information on the issues at stake, including background…

Continue Reading Update: Supreme Court Grants Cert in Cases Involving the FCC’s Monetary Penalty Authority