During oral argument Tuesday in federal court regarding consolidated challenges to the FTC's "click-to-cancel" rule, judges pressed the agency about its failure to conduct a preliminary regulatory analysis (PRA). NCTA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others petitioned the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the rule (see 2411220029), which is aimed at making it easier to cancel negative option contracts where consumers have to actively opt out of monthly subscriptions. The rule was adopted last year, and the compliance deadline is July 14 (see 2505120004).
Warner Bros. Discovery -- formed from Discovery's 2022 purchase of WarnerMedia -- will again become two companies, one focused on cable networks and the other on streaming. WBD announced the restructuring Monday, saying it should be done by mid-2026. The split comes after Comcast separated its cable networks and digital assets (see 2411200001) and Lionsgate separated its movie studio and TV businesses (see 2405140002). Analysts and others said WBD's move to two independent, publicly traded companies should have happened awhile ago.
EchoStar allies and critics fortified their positions in the FCC's twin EchoStar proceedings in docket 22-212 and 25-173 reply comments, which were due Friday. The replies covered much of the same turf as initial comments did. One side argued that EchoStar has sunk billions into its 5G network buildout, and FCC action could chill future investments by it and others, while the opposing side questioned the legality of longer buildout deadlines (see 2505280002).
Increased crowding of low earth orbit and greater competition for lunar resources could drive multinational agreements on approaching space and assets there -- but not imminently -- according to a China space program expert. Kevin Pollpeter, the China Aerospace Studies Institute's research director, told the American Bar Association's space law symposium in Washington Thursday that such space resource agreements are a long way off. Space law experts said international harmonization of space regulations faces growing hurdles.
NASHVILLE -- State broadband officers said Wednesday that the best thing the Commerce Department and NTIA can do for them in the forthcoming BEAD guidance is allow states to be fast and flexible in how they get broadband infrastructure deployed. At the Fiber Broadband Association's annual trade show and conference, state officials expressed concerns that delays could chill ISPs' interest.
NASHVILLE -- BEAD deployment activity will necessitate permitting reform at the federal, state and local levels, C Spire Vice President-Government Relations Chris Champion said Tuesday at the Fiber Broadband Association's annual conference and trade show. Agencies are aware “they are about to be bombarded” with applications, he said. Those permitting reforms must be paired with appropriations that allow agencies to staff up to handle applications, he said. Numerous other speakers echoed the call for permitting reform.
NASHVILLE -- State broadband officials and broadband industry executives repeatedly voiced frustration Monday at Fiber Connect 2025 about BEAD's state of limbo. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's testimony Thursday before the House Appropriations Committee on his department's FY 2026 budget request might give states and providers stronger direction, said Lori Adams, Nokia's vice president-broadband policy and funding strategy, at the Fiber Broadband Association's annual trade show and conference. But concrete guidance from Commerce and NTIA will almost surely take longer, she added. Also at Fiber Connect 2025, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, D-Wash., said the U.S. is squatting on much of its spectrum holdings (see 2506020012).
NASHVILLE -- The federal government is warehousing or squatting on much of its spectrum holdings, Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Monday at the Fiber Broadband Association’s Fiber Connect 2025 trade show and conference. Also at the event, states and providers complained about BEAD uncertainty (see 2506020047).
Federal budget-cutting could mean degraded quality and timeliness of emergency alerts during major storms and disasters, emergency response and weather experts tell us. A number of advocacy groups, from the Urban Institute to the Natural Resources Defense Council, have raised concerns about budget cuts for the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response. Others say budgetary issues won't harm emergency alerting, and the system remains robust.
As the subject of two FCC probes, EchoStar has received backing from various industry groups and others, but it also faces new questions about how well it's complying with the terms of its 5G network buildout. That's according to docket 25-173 and 22-212 comments, which were due Tuesday in a pair of public notices: one on whether EchoStar is using the 2 GHz band for mobile satellite service (MSS), consistent with its authorizations, and the other seeking further comment on VTel Wireless' recon petition regarding an extension of EchoStar's 5G network buildout deadlines (see 2505130003).