On July 28, 2026, the FCC added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, following determinations by an executive branch interagency body that they pose “unacceptable risks” to the national security of the United States. The new additions continue a string of decisions placing entire categories of foreign-produced devices on
Continue Reading FCC Restricts Imports of New Foreign-Produced Power Inverters and Advanced Robotic Devices with Additions to its Covered ListFederal Communications Commission
FCC Approves Massive Modernization of Satellite Licensing Regime
By Gerard J. Waldron & Conor Kane on
On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) voted to approve a Report and Order (the “Order”) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “FNPRM”) that will rework and modernize the FCC’s satellite licensing regime. Stating that “[a]chieving American space superiority is critical to our nation’s future,” the Order streamlines the FCC’s satellite…
Continue Reading FCC Approves Massive Modernization of Satellite Licensing RegimeFCC Simplifies Broadband Consumer Label Requirements
By Matthew DelNero & Conor Kane on
On July 22, the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) approved a Report and Order (the “Order”) to simplify the requirements for the broadband consumer label (the “Label”) that all ISPs have been required to provider to consumers since 2024. The Order is meant to “refocus the rules on ensuring that consumers have the clear, accurate…
Continue Reading FCC Simplifies Broadband Consumer Label RequirementsFCC to Vote on Unlocking Spectrum for Direct-to-Device Operation for Unlicensed Equipment
By Gerard J. Waldron & Conor Kane on
Posted in FCC, Spectrum & Mobile
On July 16, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking comment on proposals to permit direct-to-device (“D2D”) operations from satellites to unlicensed equipment. Currently, D2D devices that communicate with satellites would need to be licensed in one form or another. The NPRM sets out the following bands…
Continue Reading FCC to Vote on Unlocking Spectrum for Direct-to-Device Operation for Unlicensed EquipmentSupreme Court Upholds FCC Authority to Levy Fines Against Cellphone Carriers
By Gerard J. Waldron, Kiara Ortiz & Rosie Moss on
Posted in FCC
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 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 MissionsFCC 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 Developments