On June 5, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a tentative agenda for its next Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 AM ET. This release occurred a day before...more
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in space policy. Although the House Appropriations Committee kept defense funding flat at FY25 levels, it significantly increased funding for Space Force and RDT&E. On the north side of the...more
On June 6, 2025, the Commerce Department released its long-awaited guidance for future implementation of the $42.5 billion Broadand, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Entitled a BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice...more
On May 22, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) unanimously voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to require entities holding FCC licenses, authorizations and approvals...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held its May Open Meeting on Thursday, May 22, during which it voted to adopt three items: (1) a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to require holders of certain...more
Welcome to a special edition of Akin’s Space Law, Regulation and Policy Update. We held out hope that the NASA budget would be released in time for our Friday deadline, but that was not to be. And a lot has happened since our...more
It’s been a busy couple of weeks on Capitol Hill with at least half a dozen space-related hearings, the introduction of a bill that would modernize human spaceflight infrastructure at Johnson Space Center and another that...more
On May 8, 2025, President Donald Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform that the Digital Equity Act was unconstitutional and that he would be ending the "Digital Equity Program" immediately. The President...more
On April 22, 2025, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Notice of Programmatic Waiver (Waiver Notice) providing a 90-day extension of the Final Proposal deadline in the Broadband...more
Good Afternoon! It’s been a busy couple of weeks in space and space policy. President Trump proposed a $6 billion cut to NASA's budget and a $1 trillion defense budget, the nominee to lead NASA is moving to the full Senate...more
Good Afternoon! As we approach the 100-day mark for the second Trump administration, there is plenty of space policy news. Jared Issacman told the Senate during his confirmation hearing that NASA can pursue parallel moon and...more
Olivia Trusty, nominee for the open Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Commissioner position, appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Trusty has...more
Olivia Trusty, nominee for the open Republican Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Commissioner position, appeared before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Trusty has...more
On April 7, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a tentative agenda for its next Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Commission released...more
Good Afternoon! There have been plenty of space headlines over the past couple of weeks. Butch and Suni finally got a ride home. The Senate Commerce Committee moved important space bills forward and Space Systems Command...more
Good Afternoon! Space developments have kept a steady pace these past two weeks. NASA terminated $420 million in contracts to align with DOGE’s cost-cutting push. The U.S. Space Force plans to launch 100+ satellites in...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held its March Open Meeting last Thursday, March 27, during which it voted to adopt the three items discussed in our last blog post and recent client alert: (1) a Notice of Inquiry...more
On March 27, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a confirmation hearing for Arielle Roth, tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications...more
On March 6, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a tentative agenda for its next Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Commission released public drafts of...more
Good Afternoon! It was a busy couple of weeks on the Moon! Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost became the second commercial spacecraft to successfully land on the Moon. It later achieved another first by successfully acquiring and...more
On February 25, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a confirmation hearing for Michael Kratsios, tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as the Director of the White House Office of...more
3/3/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Big Tech ,
China ,
Competition ,
Data Privacy ,
Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
National Security ,
Popular ,
Privacy Laws ,
Regulatory Agenda
This Tuesday, Michael Kratsios, who is President Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), will appear before the Senate Commerce Committee for a hearing. During...more
2/25/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Executive Orders ,
Machine Learning ,
National Security ,
OSTP ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Risk Management ,
Technology Sector
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with new FCC Chairman Brendan Carr at the helm, will be holding the agency’s first Open Meeting on Thursday, February 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET amidst uncertainties...more
Good Afternoon! Though space policy hasn’t dominated recent headlines, plenty has happened over the past two weeks: The House Science committee outlined its space priorities and requested GAO review of FAA launch rules,...more
2/24/2025
/ Aerospace ,
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Foreign Policy ,
GAO ,
International Trade ,
Japan ,
NASA ,
National Security ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Technology Sector
On February 18, 2025, President Trump issued a new Executive Order (EO) entitled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” which attempts to expand presidential authority over heretofore independent regulatory agencies. The...more