The 2024 election is over and Republicans are poised in January to take over Washington, D.C.—in the White House, on the Hill, at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and at other agencies (the National...more
12/3/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Broadband ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
Communications Decency Act ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Deregulation ,
Enforcement ,
FCC ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Infrastructure ,
Mergers ,
National Security ,
Net Neutrality ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
NTIA ,
Presidential Elections ,
Telecommunications ,
Universal Service Fund
Good Afternoon! After the Republicans’ sweeping victory in last week’s election, the space community waits for guidance from the incoming Administration. Meanwhile, Congress enters the lame duck session with a slate of...more
11/18/2024
/ China ,
FCC ,
Japan ,
Licensing Rules ,
NASA ,
NDAA ,
Poland ,
Proposed Rules ,
Satellites ,
SpaceX ,
Sustainability
Good Afternoon! It has been another busy two weeks in space law and policy! SpaceX delivered a new crew (including the first Space Force Guardian in orbit) and two empty seats to the ISS. Meanwhile, back on earth, the U.S....more
On September 27, 2024, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel gave a speech on AI regulation by the FCC, highlighting her goal of improving transparency in the use of AI technology in the communications industry. The speech...more
Our newsletter reflects the focus of Akin’s cross-practice autonomous systems and advanced mobility team on developments in the regulatory, policy, trade, intellectual property, and cybersecurity and privacy spaces....more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in recent months has stepped up its scrutiny of artificial intelligence (AI) in the communications sector, focusing on AI-generated robocalls and political advertisements. The...more
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the Universal Service Fund (USF) funding mechanism is unconstitutional. The full court, sitting en banc, rejected the framework established by the Federal Communications Commission...more
On September 9, 2024, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced at an event in Washington, D.C. that the agency will be seeking Supreme Court review of a recent decision finding aspects...more
Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings...more
Our newsletter reflects the focus of Akin’s cross-practice autonomous systems and advanced mobility team on developments in the regulatory, policy, trade, intellectual property, and cybersecurity and privacy spaces....more
8/16/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Driverless Cars ,
Drones ,
FCC ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
SCOTUS ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ,
Waivers
Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings...more
Key Points - On Thursday, April 25, the FCC voted 3–2 to reinstate the Commission’s net neutrality framework by reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a Telecommunications Service, which is regulated under Title...more
Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings...more
Key Points - The FCC is seeking public comment on methods to enable access to currently unassigned spectrum in their auction inventory that can be used for wireless radio service. The Commission took this step because...more
Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings...more
The FCC released a declaratory ruling on February 8, taking action to make AI-generated robocalls illegal. The declaratory ruling follows the attempted disruption of the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary by...more
Good Afternoon! This is Akin’s biweekly policy newsletter on space policy and regulatory developments, providing information on major space headlines and forthcoming space-related events and hearings...more
2/12/2024
/ China ,
FCC ,
Layoffs ,
NASA ,
Outer Space ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Satellites ,
Spending Cuts ,
Startups ,
Sustainability
2024 is shaping up to be a busy year in Washington for telecom, media and technology (TMT) companies. A number of notable topics will require public comment this year, including net neutrality, digital discrimination, data...more
2/9/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Broadband ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
FCC ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
NDAA ,
Outer Space ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Spectrum ,
Technology Sector ,
Telecommunications
Key Points -
The FCC released its draft version of a NPRM regarding a licensing framework for ISAM capabilities. The item is tentatively scheduled to be voted on at the FCC’s Open Commission meeting on February 15....more
At the end of 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “the Commission”) adopted updates to its existing 16-year-old data breach notification rules (“prior rules”) designed to ensure that sensitive customer...more
Key Points -
On November 15, 2023, the FCC adopted rules aimed at preventing discrimination in access to broadband services. The FCC vote satisfies the Commission’s obligation under the IIJA, which requires the FCC to...more
11/27/2023
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Broadband ,
Broadband Internet Access Services (BIAS) ,
Covered Entities ,
FCC ,
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) ,
National Broadband Plan ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
NTIA ,
OCR ,
Transparency
Key Points -
On November 13, the Biden administration released its National Spectrum Strategy through a Presidential Memorandum. The Spectrum Strategy, seeking to modernize spectrum policy and coordination and identify...more
On November 15, 2023—the statutory deadline—the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on rules to prevent so-called “digital discrimination,” i.e., discrimination in access to broadband services.
The proposed...more
Key Points -
In a 3-2 vote, the FCC moved to advance a proposal that would restore so-called "net neutrality" rules and allow the agency to regulate broadband internet access service as a utility. The vote marks the start...more
10/26/2023
/ Broadband ,
Communications Act of 1934 ,
FCC ,
Infrastructure ,
Internet ,
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ,
Internet Streaming ,
Net Neutrality ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
Open Internet Rules ,
Social Media ,
Transparency