In October 2020 and 2021, the FCC adopted a pair of Orders to streamline the processing of applications involving “reportable” foreign ownership that are referred to the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation...more
9/6/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Cross-Border ,
FCC ,
Foreign Ownership ,
Licensing Rules ,
Mergers ,
National Security ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Team Telecom ,
Telecommunications ,
Trade Policy
Last week, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau (“Enforcement Bureau”) entered into a consent decree (“Consent Decree”) with prepaid calling provider TracFone Wireless (“TracFone”), addressing TracFone’s failure to adequately...more
As the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) continues to expand its jurisdictional reach, investors, property owners, and landlords should be aware of a growing focus on real estate transactions....more
7/25/2024
/ CFIUS ,
Comment Period ,
Foreign Investment ,
Investors ,
National Security ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
NPRM ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
U.S. Treasury
As the FCC continues to exercise close oversight of the use of Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”), telecom stakeholders should also be sensitive to potential data security obligations under any relevant...more
In an era where technological prowess and economic security are more entangled than ever, the United States has refined its approach towards restricting outbound investments. As we have been blogging since 2022, the past two...more
6/26/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Biden Administration ,
CFIUS ,
China ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Investment ,
Notification Requirements ,
NPRM ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Semiconductors ,
Technology Sector ,
U.S. Treasury
The FCC continues to take a more active role in privacy with its enforcement of the customer propriety network information (“CPNI”) regulations. Recently, the FCC released Forfeiture Orders against the three largest mobile...more
6/25/2024
/ AT&T ,
Confidentiality Policies ,
Consent ,
Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) ,
FCC ,
Location Data ,
Opt-In ,
Privacy Laws ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Sprint ,
T-Mobile ,
Telecommunications ,
Verizon
While many venture capitalists and private equity sponsors are aware the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) has authority to review inbound investments in certain sensitive U.S. industries, many...more
The FCC – in the latest iteration of its expanding role as a regulator in the national security space – recently adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing to fortify the security of the wireless supply chain...more
5/28/2024
/ FCC ,
Manufacturers ,
National Security ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
NPRM ,
OEM ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Supply Chain ,
Technology ,
Telecommunications ,
Wireless Industry
Key Takeaways: The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) sent a loud message to the telecommunications industry: the era of lax CPNI compliance is over.
- Mobile network operators (MNOs), mobile virtual network...more
The U.S. Government continues to increase its Federal investment in space – not for exploration, but rather as a defense strategy – and this continued investment provides significant opportunity for commercial entities to...more
Key Takeaways: The Treasury Department is seeking to equip CFIUS with greater enforcement and oversight authority. These new powers include the ability to request more information from transaction parties and also to assess...more
4/24/2024
/ CFIUS ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Foreign Investment ,
Investors ,
National Security ,
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) ,
NPRM ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
U.S. Treasury
As the battle for the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) continues on Capitol Hill, and the FCC prepares for the looming shutdown of the program, providers should be aware that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau...more
On November 20, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Order”) adopting final rules to facilitate equal access to broadband and...more
On November 13, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a National Spectrum Strategy (the Strategy) and Presidential Memorandum on the modernization of U.S. spectrum policy. The Strategy, developed by the National...more
On November 16, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a Report & Order (“Order”) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”), adopting measures to address two techniques bad actors frequently...more
Consistent with the White House’s Executive Order this week laying out a national policy on AI, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a draft Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) that would look into the implications of...more
Recently, the FCC reminded telecom providers that the cost of failing to protect their customers’ privacy is steep. In a July 28, 2023 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the Federal Communications Commission fined Q...more
The FCC recently adopted two items that underscore the Commission’s growing role in a quickly evolving national security regulatory framework: an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking overhauling the regulatory framework...more
Last week, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a new regulatory framework to address the growing convergence of satellite and terrestrial-based networks, titled the “Single Network Future: Supplementary...more
On January 4, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) setting forth proposed rules for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the 5030-5091 MHz band...more
On November 30, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Draft NPRM”) that, if adopted, will seek comment on comprehensive changes to the Part 25 satellite...more
On November 3, 2022, Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced plans to reorganize the International Bureau into a new Space Bureau and a standalone Office of International Affairs....more
In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act). This legislation directed the FCC to propose regulations that track a 2016 Public Notice where the FCC—implementing...more
4/6/2022
/ Accessibility Rules ,
Biden Administration ,
Broadband ,
Comment Period ,
Content Publishing ,
FCC ,
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) ,
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ,
Location Data ,
NPRM ,
Nutrition Facts Labels ,
Public Hearing ,
Telecommunications
Earlier this month, the FCC adopted a Report & Order (“R&O”) streamlining the application review process for transactions involving foreign investment or participation in U.S. telecommunications companies (commonly known as...more
On April 4th, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Establishing the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector. The Executive Order essentially...more