The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Tuesday struck down a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order which required broadcasters verify sponsors’ identities before leasing them air time. Prior to the order, FCC rules only required a broadcaster to ask its employees and sponsors for enough information to identify the sponsor. The [...]
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DC Circuit rules Dish Network must defend itself against whistleblower lawsuit
US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Tuesday ordered that Dish Network Corp. (Dish) must defend itself in a whistleblower False Claims Act lawsuit. The court found that a lower court decision to dismiss the case against Dish was wrong. The suit against Dish was brought by Vermont National Telephone Co. (Vermont National) on [...]
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Friday ruled that California’s net neutrality law, SB 822, can remain in place, holding the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2017 decision to reverse federal internet protections cannot bar state action. SB 822 is aimed at protecting the free and open internet by restoring the net neutrality protections afforded by [...]
Biden signs legislation to secure telecommunications systems against potential foreign threats
US President Joe Biden Thursday signed into law legislation designed to secure telecommunications systems against potential foreign threats. The new law, known as the Secure Equipment Act, will ban the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from considering or issuing authorization for products made by companies on the FCC’s “covered list.” This list includes Chinese telecommunications groups [...]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted an order ending China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s ability to operate in the United States. The FCC directed China Telecom to discontinue any domestic or international services that it provides within sixty days of the Tuesday order pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934. In December [...]
China companies oppose proposed FCC blanket ban on Chinese tech
Chinese technology companies Huawei, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua published comments Tuesday opposing the US Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) proposed rule making that would restrict the use of China-made technology. The proposed rule, which was published in June, would ban communications technology made in countries that have been deemed a national security threat, including China. According to [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Friday against Chinese telecom provider Huawei’s plea to vacate a rule by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Under the rule, FCC designated Huawei and its American affiliate as a “national security risk.” The rule barred recipients of subsidies from the federal government from using the [...]
FCC votes to advance proposed ban on Chinese telecom equipment
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously on Thursday to further the proposed ban on several Chinese telecom companies from having their equipment utilized in US communication networks. The ban applies to all future authorizations, and it would revoke any prior FCC approvals on these companies. The proposed ban would stop the authorization of [...]
SpaceX, OneWeb and the ‘Mega’ Effect of Mega-Constellations on International Space Law
On 15 May 2021, SpaceX launched 52 satellites as part of its Starlink mega-constellation, less than a week after it had launched the previous batch with 60 satellites. When fully deployed in the Low Earth Orbit (“LEO”), this constellation would form a network of thousands of satellites providing affordable access to high-speed internet. Starlink faces [...]
FCC approves plan to lower interstate and international jail and prison phone call rates
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously voted on Thursday to approve a plan that decreases interstate and international prison and jail phone call rates, making phone calls more affordable. The plan lowers the rate of interstate and international prison and jail phone calls by at least one-third. Prison phone calls cannot exceed 12 cents per [...]