Interconnected TMT
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Interconnected TMT
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’...
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’...
Interconnected TMT
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:
guidance, titled the “BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice,” introduces many significant changes to the broadband deployment subsidy program, most notably:
Interconnected TMT
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 Commission-issued licenses, authorizations or approvals to certify whether they are
owned by, controlled by or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary; (2) a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(R&O/FNPRM) that aims to strengthen requirements and oversight relating to telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs), measurement facilities (test
labs) and accreditation bodies; and (3) a FNPRM seeking comment on ways that the 12.7-13.25 gigahertz (GHz) and 42.0-42.5 GHz bands could be used more
intensively for satellite communications.
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to require holders of certain Commission-issued licenses, authorizations or approvals to certify whether they are
owned by, controlled by or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary; (2) a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(R&O/FNPRM) that aims to strengthen requirements and oversight relating to telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs), measurement facilities (test
labs) and accreditation bodies; and (3) a FNPRM seeking comment on ways that the 12.7-13.25 gigahertz (GHz) and 42.0-42.5 GHz bands could be used more
intensively for satellite communications.
Interconnected TMT
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 significant telecommunications experience on Capitol Hill and is a longtime protégé
of Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS). She is the Republican staff lead for the Senate Armed Services Committee, working with the Cybersecurity Subcommittee,
where she has worked on issues related to spectrum allocated to military and national security uses. She was also a policy director for the Senate Commerce
Committee, and specifically worked with the Communications, Media, and Broadband Subcommittee. Additionally, she was previously a legislative assistant to
Sen. Wicker, focusing on matters related to communications, technology, innovation and the internet.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Trusty has significant telecommunications experience on Capitol Hill and is a longtime protégé
of Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS). She is the Republican staff lead for the Senate Armed Services Committee, working with the Cybersecurity Subcommittee,
where she has worked on issues related to spectrum allocated to military and national security uses. She was also a policy director for the Senate Commerce
Committee, and specifically worked with the Communications, Media, and Broadband Subcommittee. Additionally, she was previously a legislative assistant to
Sen. Wicker, focusing on matters related to communications, technology, innovation and the internet.
Interconnected TMT
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 public drafts of four items that are expected to be considered at the Open Meeting,
which are detailed below:
place on Monday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The Commission released public drafts of four items that are expected to be considered at the Open Meeting,
which are detailed below:
Interconnected TMT
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 (NOI) exploring alternatives to Global Positioning Technology (GPS), (2) a Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) containing proposals to ensure the reliability and interoperability of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks, and (3)
an FNPRM seeking comment on proposals to strengthen caller location accuracy requirements for wireless calls to 911. The final versions of these documents
reflected several changes from the drafts that were circulated in early March, as detailed below:
discussed in our last blog post and recent client alert: (1) a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) exploring alternatives to Global Positioning Technology (GPS), (2) a Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) containing proposals to ensure the reliability and interoperability of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks, and (3)
an FNPRM seeking comment on proposals to strengthen caller location accuracy requirements for wireless calls to 911. The final versions of these documents
reflected several changes from the drafts that were circulated in early March, as detailed below:
Interconnected TMT
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 FCC released public drafts of three of the four items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting:
Thursday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. ET. The FCC released public drafts of three of the four items expected to be considered at the Open Meeting:
Interconnected TMT
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 related to independent agencies and presidential power as reflected in a recent
Executive Order. The FCC has released an agenda for the meeting, which is available here, along with public drafts of the five new items that will be up for
consideration by the FCC:
Thursday, February 27 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET amidst uncertainties related to independent agencies and presidential power as reflected in a recent
Executive Order. The FCC has released an agenda for the meeting, which is available here, along with public drafts of the five new items that will be up for
consideration by the FCC:
Interconnected TMT
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 President Trump’s first term, Kratsios served as the chief technology officer for OSTP,
a position he was confirmed to with unanimous Senate support. In his prior stint with the administration, Kratsios heavily focused on artificial intelligence (AI)
policy, establishing the American AI Initiative and the National AI Initiative Office. Kratsios also supported the White House push to integrate drones in the
National Airspace System, and was key in implementing a presidential memorandum in 2017 establishing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot
Program. Since leaving office in 2021, Kratsios has been at Scale AI, a data management company.
appear before the Senate Commerce Committee for a hearing. During President Trump’s first term, Kratsios served as the chief technology officer for OSTP,
a position he was confirmed to with unanimous Senate support. In his prior stint with the administration, Kratsios heavily focused on artificial intelligence (AI)
policy, establishing the American AI Initiative and the National AI Initiative Office. Kratsios also supported the White House push to integrate drones in the
National Airspace System, and was key in implementing a presidential memorandum in 2017 establishing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot
Program. Since leaving office in 2021, Kratsios has been at Scale AI, a data management company.