On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed, in FCC v. Consumers’ Research (Consumers’ Research), the constitutionality of the funding mechanism for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Universal...more
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard argument on an important case that has the potential to upend a significant source of technology funding for school systems throughout the country. The FCC v. Consumers’ Research case,...more
The Net Neutrality rules aimed to protect open, free, and fast Internet for all, while opponents questioned federal agency authority and worried the rules stymied investment and innovation....more
The Sixth Circuit’s January 2, 2025, decision in Ohio Telecom Association et al. v. Federal Communications Commission et al. may reshape the future of the Internet, delivering a significant blow to the concept of net...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released the Report and Order (Order) in the 2018 Quadrennial Review, one day before the December 27 deadline mandated by the United States Court of Appeals for the...more
Regulatory certainty is a key component in investing in the wireless space. Whether you're evaluating a wireless network or an infrastructure play, a product that relies on wireless devices, or an emergent wireless...more
The Illinois Municipal League (IML) represents the interests of 219 home rule municipalities in Illinois. The IML recently released a revised draft model, “Municipal Streaming Tax Ordinance,” (the model) for use by the home...more
In late August 2021, the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Enforcement Bureau issued an Order and Citation to ViaTalk, LLC, for failing to fulfill its obligations under the Commission's accessibility rules in 47...more
On June 4, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Media Bureau (Bureau) released a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record in its pending 2018 Quadrennial Review proceeding. Comments are due 30...more
In Japan, the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984, the “TBA”) provides the regime applicable to the telecommunications businesses. On May 15, 2020, the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business...more
Oversight of Satellite Dishes and Certain Antennas Curtailed - The FCC’s over-the-air reception devices (known as OTARD) rules (47 C.F.R. §1.4000) limit local governments’, homeowner associations’ and condominium boards’...more
Upcoming Filing and Comment Deadlines - FCC Seeks Comment on Emergency Access to Wi-Fi Access Points: Comments are due October 1 on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC or Commission) Public Notice seeking comment...more
5G provides reliable communications, enables near real-time interactions and has much faster data speed. 5G also provides the platform for the Internet of Things which can be utilized in improving public safety, autonomous...more
Ninth Circuit Takes on FCC Small Cell Orders - The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handed local governments some wins in a decision last week arising from the court’s consolidation of five appeals from three FCC 5G...more
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, Congress appropriated $200 million in funding for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (the “Program”). The Program, administered through the Federal...more
Among the items being considered at the upcoming April 12, 2019 Federal Communications Commission (“FCC” or “Commission”) open meeting is possible regulatory forbearance of certain legacy regulatory and structural...more
Due to the proliferation of advanced mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, wireless service providers anticipate a significant increase in data traffic over their networks in the next few years. ...more
Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, also known as the “Communications Decency Act of 1996” or “CDA” was signed into law in Feburary 1996. The goal of the CDA was to control the exposure of minors to indecent...more
On Monday Aug. 8, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued an opinion in Crown Castle v. City of Newport News, holding that Crown Castle proved at trial that the City of Newport News violated...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has decided a new federalism case. stopIn State of Tennessee, et al., v. Federal Communications Commission, decided on August 10, 2016, the Court of Appeals held that Section...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has struck a major blow to the FCC’s efforts to remove barriers to broadband service and promote competition in broadband markets. In State of Tennessee v. FCC, the court...more
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 90 percent of Americans have access to broadband Internet access service at the FCC’s benchmark speeds of 25 Mbps for downloads/3 Mbps for uploads. But the FCC also found...more
On February 26, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to adopt its Open Internet Order (Order). The Order reclassifies both wired and mobile “broadband Internet access service” as a “telecommunications...more
The order classifies broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) today voted, by a 3-2 margin, to adopt rules designed to promote an open Internet...more
On January 14, the U.S. Supreme Court in T-Mobile South, LLC v. City of Roswell, held that the City of Roswell ("City") violated the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iii) (the "Telecommunications...more