Federal Regulatory Agencies
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SEC Chairman Atkins Issues Remarks at Financial Stability Oversight Council Artificial Intelligence Innovation Series Roundtable on Strategy and Governance Principles
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on March 4, 2026, by Chairman Paul S. Atkins at the Financial Stability Oversight Council Artificial Intelligence Innovation Series Roundtable on Strategy and Governance Principles:
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by thanking our FSOC hosts for convening this roundtable series and for the invitation to take part in it. I should also like to acknowledge our industry partners for joining us. Today's public-private exchange exemplifies our conviction at the SEC to engage together with
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WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following remarks on March 4, 2026, by Chairman Paul S. Atkins at the Financial Stability Oversight Council Artificial Intelligence Innovation Series Roundtable on Strategy and Governance Principles:
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by thanking our FSOC hosts for convening this roundtable series and for the invitation to take part in it. I should also like to acknowledge our industry partners for joining us. Today's public-private exchange exemplifies our conviction at the SEC to engage together withyou, often and in good faith. And before I share a few reflections, let me also add the customary disclaimer that the views I express here are my own as Chairman and not necessarily those of the SEC as an institution or of the other Commissioners.
Within the time that has been allotted to me, I cannot hope to flush out, much less to resolve, questions as sweeping as the ones before us today, including those of AI's implications for U.S. capital markets. The complexities of artificial intelligence hardly conform to tidy conclusions. Luckily for you, you have some distinguished panelists to delve into these issues with the rigor that they command.
Still, encouraged by the promise of this technology, I should like to focus on at least a few of our efforts at the Commission to more fully embed it into our culture. The main message that I want to leave with you today is that AI is more than an instrument of efficiency or convenience. It is a force that stands to enable investors to participate in the markets with greater confidence, businesses to allocate capital with sharper precision, and regulators to oversee those financial markets with deeper insight.
If the scale of this new frontier feels unprecedented, it is worth considering how modestly it began--and how long humans have devised instruments to aid the mind, from the abacus onward. Some seventy years ago, in the summer of 1956, a small cohort of mathematicians and scientists assembled on the grounds of Dartmouth College for what some have since dubbed the "Constitutional Convention of AI." They convened on a premise that "every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it." [1]
Questions that they posed at midcentury--what can a thinking machine do, and what ought we ask of it?--are not unlike the ones before us today. Nor are they unlike questions with which the SEC has wrestled in the past.
For example, I find it instructive to recall the late SEC Commissioner Roberta Karmel, who stated back in the seventies that "data analyzing technology has progressed to a point of magnitude superior to that available just brief years ago."[2] Commissioner Karmel added--around the advent of the word processor, mind you--that "although these developments have augmented the complexity and efficiency of the private financial sector, the SEC has not enjoyed all the benefits of this improved technology."
Her words were at once a warning and an enduring appeal for financial regulators to keep pace with markets that they oversee. So, for our part today, we are not content to retreat from the AI revolution, nor to remain tethered to the tools of a bygone era. Instead, our posture at the SEC is clear: we intend to understand AI; to assess its potential; and, where appropriate, to adopt its solutions.
To those ends, we established the SEC's AI Task Force in August to facilitate the development and deployment of AI across the Commission. This includes tools to conduct risk assessments for potential examination; to detect potential market misconduct, such as fraud and rule violations; to review disclosures with greater speed and efficiency; to react to public input on new proposals; and to evaluate market-wide risks that bear upon our capital markets.
Of course, we are committed to using AI-enabled tools and systems in ways that augment our work responsibly. Human interaction is still required, indeed imperative, at every stage of our risk assessment program. Due process demands it. An algorithm may identify an anomaly or surface a pattern, but it does not weigh credibility or assess intent, at least not today or for the foreseeable future. Algorithmic detection of possible misconduct should not and cannot supplant the considered judgment of our commissioners and staff, nor can it serve as the sole basis of an SEC enforcement action.
Unfortunately, every technological advance also carries with it the temptation of abuse. Bad actors have begun to exploit AI and the buzz that surrounds it. So, just as we are using AI technology to detect and address fraudulent and manipulative conduct, we will seek to hold those accountable that misuse AI technologies to further those fraudulent and manipulative schemes. We have also brought actions against bad actors for deception that involves false, misleading, or exaggerated claims about the use of AI in their products and services.
In short, while the mechanisms of fraud may change, our obligation does not. The Commission's mandate to protect investors is technology neutral. And misconduct remains misconduct, regardless of the medium.
Meanwhile, the same steadiness that guides our enforcement program extends to our approach to disclosure. The SEC's best historical regulatory approach has hewn to principles-based rules--rooted in materiality. This time-tested approach should inform how a public company today ought to disclose developments concerning AI, just as it guides disclosures about any other development. The standard is a familiar one: whether there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable shareholder would consider the information important in making an investment decision.
Prescriptive mandates are not the answer to every emerging technology. And disclosure "checklists" are no substitute for materiality-based transparency that offers meaningful disclosure under established principles. If the advent of each new technology becomes a pretext for new line items, then disclosure swiftly loses its discipline. In the absence of a limiting principle, a morass of information can do more to obscure than to illuminate.
Now, insisting on clarity in disclosure should not suggest an aversion to adoption. We actively encourage market participants to engage with our staff around innovative use cases. We seek to ingrain innovation into the SEC's culture, broadly and deliberately. And we welcome your input on how technological advances can further the agency's goals to protect investors; maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets; and facilitate capital formation.
Which brings me back to where I began--to this room, and to the spirit of it.
Seventy years ago, a small group of scholars at Dartmouth posed questions that they could not yet answer about a technology that they could not yet build. But what they could do was talk with one another. Rigorously, openly, and across disciplines--without the comfort of settled conclusions. And from that exchange, a new frontier was born.
A generation later, Commissioner Karmel reminded us that to oversee evolving markets, regulators must remain engaged with those who comprise them. We must strive to keep up, and to collapse the distance between the regulators and the regulated.
As innovation often begins in dialogue, so oversight strengthens through it. That is why gatherings like this one matter, for the obligation to get this right belongs to all of us. I am grateful that we are discharging it together. And I look forward to discussing how we can extend the boundaries of this technology in service of our financial system.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best for today's further exploration and discussion of these themes.
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[1] "The Research Conference Where AI Began," available at: https://home.dartmouth.edu/about/artificial-intelligence-ai-coined-dartmouth.
[2] Commissioner Roberta Karmel, Remarks to the Treasurer's Club (October 31, 1979), available at: https://www.sechistorical.org/collection/papers/1970/1979_1031_KarmelProcess.pdf.
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/atkins-remarks-at-financial-stability-oversight-council-artificial-intelligence-innovation-series-roundtable-030426
NRC Issues First Commercial Reactor Construction Approval in 10 Years For TerraPower in Wyoming
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Issues First Commercial Reactor Construction Approval in 10 Years For TerraPower in Wyoming
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized the staff to issue TerraPower's subsidiary, US SFR Owner, a construction permit for the company's Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 commercial nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
"This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering timely, predictable decisions
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WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Issues First Commercial Reactor Construction Approval in 10 Years For TerraPower in Wyoming
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorized the staff to issue TerraPower's subsidiary, US SFR Owner, a construction permit for the company's Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1 commercial nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
"This is a historic step forward for advanced nuclear energy in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering timely, predictable decisionsgrounded in a rigorous and independent safety review," NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said.
This is the first commercial reactor the NRC has approved for construction in nearly a decade and the first approval for a non-light water reactor in more than 40 years. NRC staff finished their technical review of this new design in less than 18 months.
Following a streamlined mandatory hearing process, the Commission authorized its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to issue the permit, having found the staff's review of the Kemmerer application adequate to make the necessary regulatory safety and environmental findings. The staff expects to issue the permit soon.
TerraPower filed the application in March 2024, requesting a permit to build the sodiumcooled, advanced reactor design on a site near an existing coal-fired power plant. The NRC staff accepted the application and began formal review in May 2024.
The 345-megawatt electric (MWe) plant includes an energy storage system to temporarily boost output up to 500 MWe when needed. US SFR Owner would need to submit a separate operating license application, and the NRC staff would need to approve it before the facility could operate. More information about new reactor licensing is available on the NRC website.
The NRC staff issued its safety evaluation for the permit in December 2025, and the final environmental impact statement for the site in October 2025.
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-028.pdf
FCC: Carr Proposes Call Center Onshoring, English Proficiency Requirements
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 4, 2026:
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Carr Proposes Call Center Onshoring, English Proficiency Requirements
Rulemaking Opens New Front in Robocall Crackdown, Too, While Bringing Back American Jobs and Improving Customer Service
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the Commission will be voting this month on proposals regarding the use of offshore call centers by certain U.S. businesses. First, the FCC will vote on reforms that can encourage businesses to bring call center jobs back the U.S. Second,
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WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 4, 2026:
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Carr Proposes Call Center Onshoring, English Proficiency Requirements
Rulemaking Opens New Front in Robocall Crackdown, Too, While Bringing Back American Jobs and Improving Customer Service
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the Commission will be voting this month on proposals regarding the use of offshore call centers by certain U.S. businesses. First, the FCC will vote on reforms that can encourage businesses to bring call center jobs back the U.S. Second,the FCC will explore ways to improve customer service at existing call centers, including a proposal to require call takers to be proficient in American Standard English. Third, the FCC will address illegal robocalls that originate abroad by seeking comment on the targeted use of tariffs or bonds. These proposals focus on the customer service centers run by the communications providers regulated by the FCC.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"Americans get frustrated when they call a U.S. business and end up connecting with a call center located abroad. Language and communications barriers often make it difficult for callers to promptly and efficiently get the results they want. And these foreign-based call centers often create a heightened security risk as well. So the FCC will be voting on several proposals designed to reshore call center jobs and improve the customer service experience at the ones that remain--including by seeking comment on requiring call center workers to be proficient in American Standard English. The FCC will also be opening up a new front in our efforts to block illegal robocalls from abroad by examining the targeted use of tariffs or bonds."
Additional Background Information:
Over the past few decades, many corporations shifted their customer service and call center operations from America to a range of foreign countries - with nearly 70 percent of U.S. companies outsourcing at least one department. These moves not only took jobs away from communities across the country, they created a range of other problems as well. Today, consumers in the U.S. regularly experience frustration and poor customer service when they connect with a call center located abroad. There can be language, communication, and other barriers that make it difficult if not impossible for consumers to get a satisfactory resolution to their problem.
The over-reliance on foreign call centers is a risk to privacy, data protection, and even national security. Call centers often work with customers' sensitive payment and account information. Yet, many foreign countries do not impose the same legal protections as the United States. In addition, foreign call centers have contributed to the onslaught of robocalls facing American households and businesses, often leveraging the training and the infrastructure used to operate legitimate call centers to defraud Americans.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposed today would seek comment on:
* Ways to encourage and facilitate the onshoring of call centers, including limits on call volume from overseas call centers, empowering consumers to transfer calls to a U.S.-based location, or requiring covered providers to disclose the location of the call center during the customer interaction;
* Steps the FCC can take to improve the customer service and security of communications between an American and any call center that remains abroad, including requiring workers at call centers to be proficient in American Standard English and otherwise be trained appropriately for resolving issues with U.S. customers;
* How best to address illegal robocall scams that originate inside foreign call centers, such as ways we can take the profit out of those operations (including specifically the idea of requiring the use of bonds or tariffs in appropriate circumstances); and,
* The scope of the FCC's legal authority, including the types of covered businesses, applicability of rules to call centers operated by communications providers regulated by the FCC, acknowledging limits on the FCC's authority to address all potential call centers located overseas.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-419225A1.pdf
FCC Accelerating Rollout of Modern, High-Speed Networks
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 4, 2026:
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FCC Accelerating Rollout of Modern, High-Speed Networks
Agency Streamlining Process to Retire Copper Lines, Freeing Up Billions for New Networks
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the Commission will vote this month on rules that will get communities off of old and slow copper lines and onto new, high-speed networks. These rules, if adopted by the full Commission at the March 26 Open Meeting, will allow providers to retire their decades-old and increasingly
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WASHINGTON, March 5 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 4, 2026:
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FCC Accelerating Rollout of Modern, High-Speed Networks
Agency Streamlining Process to Retire Copper Lines, Freeing Up Billions for New Networks
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the Commission will vote this month on rules that will get communities off of old and slow copper lines and onto new, high-speed networks. These rules, if adopted by the full Commission at the March 26 Open Meeting, will allow providers to retire their decades-old and increasinglyexpensive copper line networks, freeing up tens of billions of dollars annually for the roll out of upgraded, high-speed networks to more Americans, all while making sure that consumers remain connected to the public safety and other communications they need at home.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"This FCC decision will free up billions of dollars in private capital so that Americans in communities across the country can go from old and slow copper lines to modern, high-speed ones. For too long, outdated regulations have forced providers to keep consumers on antiquated networks. We will cut through that red tape with this decision. This FCC vote will finally allow those Americans to benefit from an upgrade to next-gen infrastructure. We also are mindful of core consumer protection and public safety requirements. This is another good step forward in the agency's Build America Agenda."
Additional Background Information:
As part of this decision, the FCC would take several actions to bring the regulatory environment in line with today's communications marketplace, while retaining or adopting safeguards to protect public safety and ensure 911 continuity.
The rules, if adopted, would:
* Eliminate the filing requirements associated with FCC rules implementing section 251(c)(5)'s network change disclosure mandate;
* Overhaul and streamline rules applicable to technology transitions discontinuance applications under section 214;
* Grant blanket section 214(a) authority for carriers to grandfather legacy voice services, lower-speed data telecommunications services, and interconnected Voice over IP (VoIP) service provisioned over copper wire; and,
* Eliminate other rule provisions rendered irrelevant.
Furthermore, the record has shown that certain state and local requirements have prolonged the use of legacy networks and hindered the deployment of modern ones. If state and local statutes and regulations force providers to continue devoting resources to maintaining deteriorating legacy networks and provisioning near-obsolete services to an ever-decreasing number of subscribers even after the Commission has allowed the carrier to discontinue a legacy service, those state requirements conflict with federal law and are subject to preemption
The public draft of the Report and Order will be made available tomorrow at: https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2026/03/march-2026-open-commission-meeting.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-419224A1.pdf
USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Laptops, Routers and Gateways, and Components Thereof
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Laptops, Routers and Gateways, and Components Thereof
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News Release 25-036
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1489
Contact: Claire Huber, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain laptops, routers and gateways, and components thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission's notice of institution of investigation.
The investigation
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WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Laptops, Routers and Gateways, and Components Thereof
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News Release 25-036
Inv. No(s). 337-TA-1489
Contact: Claire Huber, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission or USITC) voted to institute an investigation of certain laptops, routers and gateways, and components thereof. The products at issue in the investigation are described in the Commission's notice of institution of investigation.
The investigationis based on a complaint filed on behalf of AX Wireless, LLC of Austin, Texas, on February 2, 2026. Supplements to the complaint were filed on February 10, 2026. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of laptops, routers and gateways, and components thereof that infringe certain claims of the patents asserted by the complainant. The complainant requests that the USITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.
The USITC has identified the following respondents in this investigation:
* ASUSTeK Computer Inc., Taipei, Taiwan
* ASUS Computer International, Inc., Fremont, California
* TP-Link Systems Inc., Irvine, California
* D-Link Corporation, Taipei, Taiwan
* D-Link Systems, Inc., Irvine, California
* Ubiquiti Inc., New York, New York
By instituting this investigation (337-TA-1489), the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case. The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's administrative law judges (ALJ), who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing. The ALJ will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337; that initial determination is subject to review by the Commission.
The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the USITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. USITC remedial orders in section 337 cases are effective when issued and become final 60 days after issuance unless disapproved for policy reasons by the U.S. Trade Representative within that 60-day period.
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Original text here: https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0304_68239.htm
NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a proposed rule for comment, which would streamline Atomic Safety and Licensing Board adjudicatory hearings on most license applications, including new reactors and reactor license renewals.
This rule is part of broader reforms from Executive Order 14300 aimed at increasing U.S. nuclear capacity and to reestablish the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy. EO 14300
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WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Proposes Significantly Restructured Hearing Timeline to Minimize Delays
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a proposed rule for comment, which would streamline Atomic Safety and Licensing Board adjudicatory hearings on most license applications, including new reactors and reactor license renewals.
This rule is part of broader reforms from Executive Order 14300 aimed at increasing U.S. nuclear capacity and to reestablish the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy. EO 14300directs the NRC to complete licensing actions within 12 to 18 months, or faster. Historically, NRC adjudications have extended well past these timeframes. This rulemaking would enable the NRC to meet these deadlines for applications even when they are the subject of hearing requests by reforming its contested hearing process to accelerate timelines, simplify procedures, reduce burdens, while preserving due process. Specifically, the amendment would:
* Resolve evidentiary hearings in a few months.
* Start hearings as early as possible after a challenge is admitted for hearing; ensure that later-filed challenges do not unnecessarily delay NRC licensing decisions.
* Reduce discovery burdens for all parties and accelerate appeals.
* Ensure independent legal and technical judges would still preside over contested hearings, maintaining fairness for all parties and accurate decisions that protect public safety and security. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until April 2, following publication in the Federal Register.
Comments can be submitted, referencing Docket ID NRC-2025-1501, at regulations.gov; the Register notice will include additional instructions.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-027.pdf
NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station to review the circumstances of a loss of offsite power during a recent winter storm. The plant, operated by PSEG Nuclear LLC, is in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey. The NRC determined a special inspection was warranted because switchyard issues caused the plant to unexpectedly lose its preferred source of
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WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Begins Special Inspection at Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched a special inspection at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station to review the circumstances of a loss of offsite power during a recent winter storm. The plant, operated by PSEG Nuclear LLC, is in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey. The NRC determined a special inspection was warranted because switchyard issues caused the plant to unexpectedly lose its preferred source ofelectrical power for safety systems.
"We want to ensure PSEG is taking appropriate steps to understand the conditions that caused the power loss," said acting Region I Administrator Ray McKinley. "Our inspectors will evaluate the company's analysis of the event, as well as the steps being taken to ensure the plant avoids similar events in the future."
On Feb. 23, plant operators declared an Unusual Event and safely shut down the plant after safety systems lost connection to incoming power lines. Emergency generators automatically started to provide power to essential plant equipment. The plant restored offsite power later that day, and the reactor remains safely shut down.
Once the inspection is complete, NRC inspectors will document their findings in a publicly available inspection report, which will be distributed electronically to listserv subscribers and available on the NRC website (https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/oversight/listofrpts-body.html#hope).
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-002-i.pdf
