Interconnected TMT

Following a busy October agenda at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) and despite the continuing government shutdown that has halted some of the FCC’s operations, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr released a tentative agenda for the Commission’s November Open Meeting on October 30, 2025.  The draft items for the meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET, represent a continuation of the Chairman’s Build America agenda with a focus on freeing up more mid-band spectrum for terrestrial use, modernizing telecommunications relay services, deleting obsolete rules and addressing cybersecurity threats.  Details on the four items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting are summarized below:

Despite the ongoing government shutdown and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) cessation of most of its operations, on October 7, the FCC Chairman Brendan Carr released an ambitious and expansive tentative agenda for the Commission’s October Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 28th at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Chairman is dubbing October “Space Month” because of new initiatives aimed at modernizing the regulatory framework for space innovation. Public drafts of the nine items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting are detailed below:

On September 9th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) released a tentative agenda for its September Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 30, at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Commission released public drafts of the five items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting, which are detailed below:

On July 17, the FCC released a tentative agenda for its August Open Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 7 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Commission released public drafts of the eight items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting, which are detailed below:

Chairman Carr delivered a speech in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on July 2 titled “A Build Agenda for America” in which he laid out the FCC’s priorities for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. In citing to what he refers to as President Trump’s “new Golden Age for America,” Chairman Carr indicated he believes the telecommunications sector needs reform through his Build America Agenda. This agenda aims to create new growth and opportunity in telecommunications, helping the United States surpass global competitors.

On Monday, June 23, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a public notice announcing comment and reply comment deadlines for the Identifying Foreign Adversary Ownership Stakes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Foreign Ownership NPRM). Comments will be due on July 23, and replies will be due on August 22.

President Donald J. Trump has taken action to bolster the American drone industry and safeguard U.S. airspace with the signing of two critical executive orders. Entitled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” and “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” these orders underscore the administration’s commitment to harmonizing national security and technological progress.

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 Commissioners Simington and Starks stepped down from their roles at the FCC, leaving the Commission with only two sitting commissioners—Chairman Carr and Commissioner Gomez. A quorum of three commissioners is required in order for the FCC to conduct Commission-level business. While the Commission will be able to continue with bureau-level proceedings, the lack of quorum raises legal and practical questions about the Commission’s ability to adopt new rules, such as the rules contained in the two draft Report and Orders below. Quorum, however, can be regained if Congress can confirm President Trump’s nominee, Olivia Trusty, as a new Republican Commissioner prior to the June Open Meeting. Recognizing this, on June 12, Senate Majority Leader Thune filed a “notice of cloture” that will allow the Senate to debate, and then vote, on Trusty’s nomination by the end of next week. Trusty’s appointment would allow the Commission to act on three items that are expected to be considered at the Open Meeting, which are detailed below:

On June 6, 2025, the Commerce Department issued new guidance in the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The guidance, titled the “BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice,” introduces many significant changes to the broadband deployment subsidy program, most notably: