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SEC Issues Litigation Action Involving Charles E. Jones
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 5:24-cv-01560-JPC; N.D. Ohio filed Sept. 12, 2024) involving Charles E. Jones:
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The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on June 27, 2026, the Honorable J. Philip Calabrese, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, granted a motion to dismiss filed by Defendant Charles E. Jones.
On September 12, 2024, the SEC filed a complaint against Jones, the former CEO of FirstEnergy Corp.
In granting the motion to dismiss, the court found that the Commission's
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WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 5:24-cv-01560-JPC; N.D. Ohio filed Sept. 12, 2024) involving Charles E. Jones:
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The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on June 27, 2026, the Honorable J. Philip Calabrese, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, granted a motion to dismiss filed by Defendant Charles E. Jones.
On September 12, 2024, the SEC filed a complaint against Jones, the former CEO of FirstEnergy Corp.
In granting the motion to dismiss, the court found that the Commission'scomplaint, as alleged, did not state a claim against Jones for violations of federal securities laws.
For further information, see Litigation Release No. 26105 (https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26105).
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26578
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice Seeking Comment on Proposed Eligible Services List for E-Rate Program
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 13-184):
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The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) pursuant to section 54.502(e) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules seeks comment on the proposed funding year (FY) 2027 eligible services list (ESL) for the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism, also known as the E-Rate program./1
In the Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Order, we declined to make any changes to managed internal broadband services
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WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 13-184):
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The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) pursuant to section 54.502(e) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules seeks comment on the proposed funding year (FY) 2027 eligible services list (ESL) for the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism, also known as the E-Rate program./1
In the Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Order, we declined to make any changes to managed internal broadband services(MIBS) in the FY 2026 ESL and noted we would seek additional comment./2 In the recently adopted Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission reiterated its concern about its ability to review the cost-effectiveness of contracts for MIBS and asked whether it should continue to be a supported service within the E-Rate program./3 In that item, the Commission is seeking "comment, and specific proposals, on how the Commission should define and ensure costeffective purchasing for these services. For example, should reimbursement for MIBS services be limited to the number of hours worked with the requirement that tickets for work requested/performed and hours worked be included with requests for reimbursement?"/4 The Commission is also seeking comment on "[w]hat information should applicants include in an FCC Form 470 or request for proposal document when requesting MIBS to ensure bidders have sufficient information to submit a responsive bid and applicants can effectively compare bids to select the most cost-effective service offering?"/5 The Commission also asks whether "requiring applicants to compare bids on internal connections directly with those of a MIBS bid help safeguard applicants and the E-Rate program from MIBS providers offering contracts at rates that exceed the value of the network itself."/6 Finally, the Commission also asks whether "we limit eligibility of MIBS to schools and libraries of a certain size instead of eliminating it as a supported service?"/7
In addition to these questions, we also seek comment on how to limit MIBS to ensure it is costeffective for both the applicant and the E-Rate program. For example, how do we prevent MIBS from being used to augment a school's or library's information technology department or team when a school's or library's staffing costs are ineligible for E-Rate support? How can we ensure ineligible services and equipment are not being bundled with a MIBS service? How can we determine what services are being provided through a MIBS contract and how to limit support to eligible services and equipment? If an applicant owns the internal connections, should the applicant be limited to seeking only basic maintenance of internal connections (BMIC) instead of MIBS for its owned equipment? Given our concerns about the cost-effectiveness of MIBS and ensuring only eligible services and equipment are funded, should the Commission make MIBS ineligible for E-Rate support or otherwise limit support to certain sized schools and libraries? We encourage commenters to file comments related to MIBS in both proceedings under WC Docket Nos. 26-133 and 13-184.
In the Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Order, we also noted that Lumen Technologies, Inc. (Lumen) had requested clarification on the eligibility of services and equipment stemming from its network-as-a-service (NaaS). Based on our understanding, applicants could receive variable amounts of service throughout the school year with pricing based on actual use instead of being based on a set amount of service for each month. While the FCC Form 471 permits applicants to indicate that a service is burstable, the cost of the service is fixed and the FCC Form 471 does not collect information to request variable amounts of bandwidth for each month and at different prices. We seek comment on whether or how the FCC Forms 470 and 471 could be modified to account for monthly variable services and pricing. What information should applicants include in an FCC Form 470 or request for proposal document when requesting monthly variable services to ensure bidders have sufficient information to submit a responsive bid and applicants can effectively compare the costs of bids for monthly variable services to fixed monthly services? What information should be collected on the FCC forms to allow the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to accurately commit funding for services that will vary each month in amount and cost? Specifically, how would we calculate demand for the program for services with variable costs? What safeguards and limits should we impose on NaaS and other services with variable pricing? Are such variable pricing services likely to lower or raise costs to the Fund? What equipment is needed to provide NasS and other services with variable costs? Should services with variable costs, like NaaS, remain ineligible given the heavy administrative burdens associated with funding this type of services? We seek comment on these questions and the extent to which service providers offer and applicants seek such services.
The Bureau is not proposing any other changes to the draft funding year 2027 ESL. We invite stakeholders to comment on the questions related to MIBS and monthly variable NaaS services. Pursuant to section 1.419 of the Commission's rules,/8 interested parties may file comments on or before July 30, 2026, and reply comments on or before August 14, 2026. All comments are to reference WC Docket Nos. 26-133 and 13-184 and may be filed by paper or by using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
* Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
- Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
- Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building.
- Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
- Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats (braille, large print, electronic files, or audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be publicly available online via ECFS./9
Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Public Notice initiates shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./10 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the ex parte memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules./11 In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the Commission's rules,/12 or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through ECFS in the docket available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
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Footnotes:
1/ See 47 CFR Sec. 54.502(e) (detailing the procedures for seeking comment on a draft E-Rate program eligible services list); Attachment, Draft Schools and Libraries Eligible Services List for Funding Year 2027.
2/ Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Order, WC Docket No. 13-184, Order, DA 25-1069, para. 9 (WCB 2025) (Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Order); see also Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Proposed Eligible Services List for the E-Rate Program, WC Docket No. 13-184, Public Notice, DA 25-921 (WCB 2025) (Funding Year 2026 Eligible Services List Public Notice).
3/ Ensuring Children's Safe Use of Screens and E-Rate Funded Services; Modernizing the E-Rate Program for Schools and Libraries, Establishing the Emergency Connectivity Fund to Close the Homework Gap, Promoting Fair and Open Competitive Bidding in the E-Rate Program; WC Docket Nos. 26-133, et al., Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 26-41,at para. 84 (2026) (Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking).
4/ Id.
5/ Id.
6/ Id.
7/ Id.
8/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.419.
9/ Documents will generally be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
10/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
11/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.1206(b).
12/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.49(f).
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Original text plus attachment here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-647A1.pdf
FCC Enforcement Bureau Reminds Multichannel Video Program Distributor of 2026 FCC Form-396 Deadline
WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau issued the following notice (Docket No.: DA 26-590):
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Pursuant to section 76.77 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 76.77, a multichannel video program distributor (MVPD) employment unit with six or more full-time employees must file an FCC Form 396-C, Multichannel Video Programming Distributor EEO Program Annual Report, by September 30 each year. By this Notice, we remind MVPDs of this recurring obligation. The Form 396-C must be submitted via the EEO filing portal in the Cable Operations and Licensing System
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WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau issued the following notice (Docket No.: DA 26-590):
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Pursuant to section 76.77 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 76.77, a multichannel video program distributor (MVPD) employment unit with six or more full-time employees must file an FCC Form 396-C, Multichannel Video Programming Distributor EEO Program Annual Report, by September 30 each year. By this Notice, we remind MVPDs of this recurring obligation. The Form 396-C must be submitted via the EEO filing portal in the Cable Operations and Licensing System(COALS), which can be accessed at https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/coals./1
Additionally, we identify in the following pages those employment units that must complete the Supplemental Investigation Sheet (SIS) of the Form 396-C this year. Moreover, Section I of the COALS Form 396-C, labeled "Supplemental Investigation Sheet", automatically displays a check mark for those filers that are required to submit the SIS. SIS filers should also take note of the following requirements:
* Part I: One job description must be provided for this category: Technicians
* Part II: Only questions 4 , 5, and 6 must be answered.
* Part III: The employment unit's 2025 EEO Public File Report/2 covering the previous 12 months (2025-2026), must be attached.
Questions concerning the Form 396-C can be directed to EEO staff at EB-EEO@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1450. For technical assistance with COALS, please contact coals_help@fcc.gov and for help with CORES matters, direct questions to COREShelp@fcc.gov.
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FCC NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
We have estimated that each response to this collection of information will take from 0.166 to 2.5 hours. Our estimate includes the time to read the instructions, look through existing records, gather and maintain the required data, and actually complete and review the form or response. If you have any comments on this burden estimate, or on how we can improve the collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please e-mail them to pra@fcc.gov or send them to the Federal Communications Commission, AMD-PERM, Paperwork Reduction Project (3060-1033), Washington, DC 20554. Please DO NOT SEND COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO THIS ADDRESS. Remember - you are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice. This collection has been assigned an OMB control number of 3060-1033.
THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995, P.L. 104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507.
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Footnotes:
1/ Please note that COALS requires a Commission Registration System (CORES) username and password to which authority for one or more Federal Registration Numbers (FRNs) has been delegated. To manage CORES usernames and passwords, please visit https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do. For additional information regarding FRNs and the CORES system, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/commission-registration-system-fcc.
2/ See 47 CFR Sec. 76.1703 of the Commission's rules for information regarding the annual EEO Public File Report.
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Original text plus attachment here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-590A1.pdf
Supreme Court issues opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. vs. FEC, et al.
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news release:
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Supreme Court issues opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. FEC, et al.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an Opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. FEC, et al. (Case No. 24-621), holding that the coordinated party expenditure limitations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), violate the First Amendment.
The Act's coordinated party expenditures limits are codified at 52 U.S.C. SS 30116(d) and provide that certain political
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WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following news release:
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Supreme Court issues opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. FEC, et al.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an Opinion in National Republican Senatorial Committee, et al. v. FEC, et al. (Case No. 24-621), holding that the coordinated party expenditure limitations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), violate the First Amendment.
The Act's coordinated party expenditures limits are codified at 52 U.S.C. SS 30116(d) and provide that certain politicalparty committees may make special expenditures in coordination with the general election campaigns of federal candidates, subject to specific amount limitations.
Today's Supreme Court majority opinion stated "[i]n light of other meaningful prophylactic measures available to the Government, and given the severe infringement on First Amendment-protected political speech that ensues from limiting a political party's spending in support of its candidates, we conclude that the political-party coordinated-expenditure limits are 'disproportionate' and are not 'necessary' and 'narrowly tailored' for the circumvention interest it seeks to protect." The Court identified earmarking and disclosure requirements as the other meaningful prophylactic measures.
The complete litigation history of this matter is available on the Commission's website here (https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/national-republican-senatorial-committee-et-al-v-federal-election-commission-et-al-22-639/).
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/supreme-court-issues-opinion-in-national-republican-senatorial-committee-et-al-v-fec-et-al/
Statement of CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman Regarding the Supreme Court's Decision in Trump vs. Slaughter
BETHESDA, Maryland, June 30 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following statement on June 29, 2026, by Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman:
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Statement of Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman Regarding the Supreme Court's Decision in Trump v. Slaughter
Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Trump v. Slaughter, restoring the constitutional separation of powers among the branches of the federal government and overruling Humphrey's Executor v. United States.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman released the following statement:
"Today
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BETHESDA, Maryland, June 30 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following statement on June 29, 2026, by Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman:
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Statement of Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman Regarding the Supreme Court's Decision in Trump v. Slaughter
Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Trump v. Slaughter, restoring the constitutional separation of powers among the branches of the federal government and overruling Humphrey's Executor v. United States.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman released the following statement:
"Todaythe U.S. Supreme Court restored a fundamental principle of our constitutional system: officials who exercise executive power are accountable to the President of the United States, who alone is vested with executive authority under Article II of the Constitution.
Importantly, today's decision should put a swift end to the related lawsuit against CPSC and President Trump brought by former Democrat commissioners who claim they were unlawfully removed from office. The Supreme Court confirmed what we have maintained from the beginning: agencies that exercise executive authority are subject to presidential supervision and control under Article II of the Constitution. As a result, President Trump's constitutional authority to remove the former commissioners is clear, and their claims should now fail as a matter of law.
The Trump CPSC is proud to be part of a whole-of-government effort to put America first, restore accountability in government, and make America great again."
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Original text here: https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Chairman/Peter-A-Feldman/Statement/Statement-of-Acting-Chairman-Peter-A-Feldman-Regarding-the-Supreme-Courts-Decision-in-Trump-v-Slaughter
SEC Seeks Public Comment on Novel Exchange-Traded Funds
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Seeks Public Comment on Novel Exchange-Traded Funds
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a request for public comment on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seeking to invest in innovative asset classes or engage in novel investment strategies. The request focuses on ways to facilitate innovation in the ETF space while protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation.
"Innovation in exchange-traded funds depends on a
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WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Seeks Public Comment on Novel Exchange-Traded Funds
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a request for public comment on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seeking to invest in innovative asset classes or engage in novel investment strategies. The request focuses on ways to facilitate innovation in the ETF space while protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation.
"Innovation in exchange-traded funds depends on aconsistent, transparent, and efficient regulatory framework," said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. "The Commission's request for comment seeks input from the public on how the U.S. ETF market can continue to grow and innovate while serving investors effectively, and I look forward to reviewing feedback from market participants as we evaluate how to best respond to recent market changes."
"Exchange-traded funds are a tremendous success story, growing from $4 trillion in 2019 to over $12 trillion at the end of 2025. As ETFs continue to grow and novel strategies emerge, public engagement is essential to answering key questions to make the next years of development a success," said Brian Daly, Director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management.
The Commission encourages feedback on the important questions raised in today's release. The Commission requests comment with respect to the status of certain novel ETFs as investment companies, the regulation of novel ETFs, and how the registration process for novel ETFs can continue to operate effectively.
The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following publication of the request for comment in the Federal Register.
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-60-sec-seeks-public-comment-novel-exchange-traded-funds
FCC Takes Steps to Modernize the Nation's Alerting Systems
WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on June 29, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Takes Steps to Modernize the Nation's Alerting Systems
Re: Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems; Protecting the Nation's Communications Systems from Cybersecurity Threats; Wireless Emergency Alerts; Amendment of Part 11 of the Commission's Rules Regarding the Emergency Alert System, Report and Order, PS Docket Nos. 25-224 and 22-329, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, PS Docket Nos. 25-224, 15-94, 15-91, (June 25, 2026).
Some folks
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WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on June 29, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Takes Steps to Modernize the Nation's Alerting Systems
Re: Modernization of the Nation's Alerting Systems; Protecting the Nation's Communications Systems from Cybersecurity Threats; Wireless Emergency Alerts; Amendment of Part 11 of the Commission's Rules Regarding the Emergency Alert System, Report and Order, PS Docket Nos. 25-224 and 22-329, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, PS Docket Nos. 25-224, 15-94, 15-91, (June 25, 2026).
Some folkswill remember more than a decade ago when television viewers in several states received what appeared to be a real emergency alert. The alert informed Americans that "the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living." Thankfully for those of us that aren't Daryl Dixon or Rick Grimes, it was not the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. But it was the result of a cyberattack that allowed bad actors to transmit a false warning over broadcast stations after gaining access to alerting equipment that was protected by default passwords and inadequate security measures.
While the FCC has worked to ensure that vulnerabilities in EAS and WEA are addressed, there have been additional instances of alerting and broadcast systems being compromised or manipulated, including recent attacks that used emergency alert tones and related broadcast equipment to transmit unauthorized content. These attacks are a stark reminder that threats continue to evolve and our work must continue.
Today's item builds on our prior work by taking commonsense steps to strengthen the cybersecurity of our emergency alert systems by addressing the very types of vulnerabilities that enabled the zombie-alert incident in the first place. Requiring stronger password practices, timely software updates, and improved security controls will help reduce opportunities for bad actors to exploit weaknesses in alerting equipment.
Today's item also tees up additional reforms that can improve the integrity, resilience, and effectiveness of emergency alerts, including improving geographic accuracy of alerts, improving the detection and blocking of duplicate alerts, and removing outdated and unnecessary alerting requirements to help encourage broader participation in alerting.
Thanks to Logan Bennett, Steven Carpenter, George Donato, Leon Kenworthy, David Kirschner, Zoe Li, David Munson, Zenji Nakazawa, Austin Randazzo, Tara Shostek, and James Wiley for their work on this item.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-38A2.pdf
