Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
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FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice Seeking Comment on Petition for Rulemaking on Numbering Administration
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 25-1030) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for rulemaking of Somos, Inc. (Somos), requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking "to facilitate the technology transition to all-IP networks by modernizing [the Commission's] numbering assignment, administration and routing rules."/1 In its petition, Somos proposes, among other things, that the Commission should "eliminate the outdated
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 25-1030) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for rulemaking of Somos, Inc. (Somos), requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking "to facilitate the technology transition to all-IP networks by modernizing [the Commission's] numbering assignment, administration and routing rules."/1 In its petition, Somos proposes, among other things, that the Commission should "eliminate the outdated[LERG Routing Guide] and related [Business Integrated Routing and Rating Database System] interface and replace it with an [Internet Protocol] routing guide" and "consolidate the related number assignment functions split between the North American Numbering Plan Administrator."/2
Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the dates shown on the first page of this document./3 All comments must reference RM-12012. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)./4
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.
* Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.
- Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of 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 may be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.
Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this Public Notice initiates shall be treated as a "permit-butdisclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./5 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 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). In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) 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 the electronic comment filing system 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.
People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530.
Additional Information. For further information, please contact William Andrle, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-2298 or via e-mail at william.andrle@fcc.gov.
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Footnotes:
1/ Somos, Inc. Petition for Rulemaking, filed on September 26, 2025, available at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10926561414250/1 (Somos Petition).
2/ Id. at 2-3.
3/ See 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1, 1.3, 1.45.
4/ See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998).
5/ 47 CFR Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-1030A1.pdf
FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Issues Public Notice Reminding Wireless Providers of Form 855 Certification Deadline
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued the following public notice (WT Docket No. 23-388) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) reminds wireless service providers of the upcoming deadline to file FCC Form 855 certifications. The upcoming FCC Form 855 certifications will cover the calendar year from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The FCC Form 855 certification filing window will open on Friday, January 2, 2026 and given that January 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday the filing window will
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued the following public notice (WT Docket No. 23-388) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) reminds wireless service providers of the upcoming deadline to file FCC Form 855 certifications. The upcoming FCC Form 855 certifications will cover the calendar year from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The FCC Form 855 certification filing window will open on Friday, January 2, 2026 and given that January 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday the filing window willclose on Monday, February 2, 2025. The FCC Form 855 certification site can be accessed at https://www.fcc.gov/filing-hearing-aid-compatibility-reports-and-certifications.
The Commission requires wireless service providers to file FCC Form 855 certifications to ensure compliance with the Commission's wireless hearing aid compatibility rules./1 Service providers who offer handset models for sale or use in the United States are required to annually file this form. The Commission defines a wireless service provider as a provider of digital mobile service in the United States./2 This definition includes mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and wireless resellers.
The Bureau reminds service providers that unless they qualify for one of the de minimis exceptions,/3 the current hearing aid compatibility handset model deployment benchmark is 85%./4 This benchmark applies to both nationwide and non-nationwide service providers./5 A service provider can derive this percentage by dividing the number of hearing aid-compatible handset models that it offered across all air interfaces for the reporting period by the total number of handset models (hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible) that it offered for the reporting period./6
Service providers that operate publicly accessible websites must include the website address where the information required by the hearing aid compatibility website posting rules can be found./7 Commission staff will review the provided website address to ensure compliance with the hearing aid compatibility website posting requirements. If a service provider did not operate a publicly accessible website for the reporting period, then the service provider should type the following statement into the website address box: "For the reporting period, [name of company] did not operate a publicly accessible website."
In addition, a knowledgeable executive must certify whether the service provider was in full compliance with all the applicable wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements for the reporting period./8 The service provider must represent and warrant, and the knowledgeable executive declares under penalty of perjury, that the certification is truthful and accurate./9 The service provider must also acknowledge that false statements and misrepresentations to the Commission are punishable and may subject it to enforcement action./10
Service providers that certify they were not in full compliance with the wireless hearing aid compatibility rules for the reporting period must submit an attachment explaining which wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements the service provider was not in full compliance with, and when the noncompliance began and (if applicable) ended with respect to each requirement./11
Further, service providers must ensure that the contact information that is provided is accurate and complete and can be used to directly contact the signing executive should Commission staff have a question about the filing company's certification. The signing executive must include his or her first and last name, middle initial, and title. The executive must also provide his or her business address, complete phone number, including area code and extension, and email address. If the filing company is a non-U.S. company, the company's U.S. business office address and phone number must be included. If the filing company does not have a U.S. business office address, then the filer must use its U.S. agent's address.
Failure to timely and accurately file FCC Form 855 certifications could lead to enforcement proceedings and possible forfeitures.
For further information concerning this notice, contact Eli Johnson, FCC, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Competition & Infrastructure Policy Division, (202) 418-1395, eli.johnson@fcc.gov.
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Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 20.19(i)(1).
2/ Id. Sec. 20.19(a).
3/ Id. Sec. 20.19(e).
4/ Id. Sec. 20.19(c)(3), (5).
5/ Id.
6/ We note that the Commission adopted a 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement that will replace the current 85% handset model deployment benchmark. Achieving 100% Wireless Handset Model Hearing Aid Compatibility, WT Docket No. 23-388, Report and Order, 39 FCC Rcd 11917 (2024). The 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement will become effective for handset manufacturers after December 14, 2026, and for nationwide service providers after June 14, 2027. 47 CFR Sec. 20.19 (c)(2), (4). For non-nationwide service providers, the 100% hearing aid compatibility requirement will take effect after June 13, 2028. 47 CFR Sec. 20.19(c)(6).
7/ 47 CFR Sec. 20.19(h).
8/ Id. Sec. 20.19(i)(1)-(2).
9/ Id. Sec. 20.19(i)(2)(vi).
10/ Id.
11/ Id. Sec. 20.19(i)(2)(vii).
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-1031A1.pdf
FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Issues Public Notice: Comment Dates for Broadband Consumer Labels Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued the following public notice (CG Docket No. 22-2; GN Docket No. 25-133) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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On November 3, 2025, the Commission released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate six requirements from its broadband label rules and seeks comment on other ways the Commission might streamline the broadband label requirements while preserving their consumer benefit./1
On December 3, 2025, a summary of the item was published in the Federal Register./2 Accordingly,
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- The Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued the following public notice (CG Docket No. 22-2; GN Docket No. 25-133) on Dec. 8, 2025:
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On November 3, 2025, the Commission released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to eliminate six requirements from its broadband label rules and seeks comment on other ways the Commission might streamline the broadband label requirements while preserving their consumer benefit./1
On December 3, 2025, a summary of the item was published in the Federal Register./2 Accordingly,comments are due on or before January 2, 2026, and reply comments are due on or before February 2, 2026./3 Complete comment filing instructions are set forth in the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking./4
For further information, contact Michelle Branigan Attorney Advisor, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-1345 or Michelle.Branigan@fcc.gov.
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Footnotes:
1/ See Empowering Broadband Labels Through Transparency, CG Docket 22-2, GN Docket No. 25-133, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 25-74 (Nov. 3, 2025).
2/ Federal Communications Commission, Empowering Broadband Labels Through Transparency, Proposed Rule, 90 Fed. Reg. 55713 (Dec. 3, 2025).
3/ This provides a 30-day initial comment period and a 60-day reply comment period, commencing with publication in the Federal Register.
4/ Broadband Labels Second FNPRM at 55714.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-1029A1.pdf
FTC Denies Petition from SpyFone App CEO to Vacate 2021 Order
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Denies Petition from SpyFone App CEO to Vacate 2021 Order
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The Federal Trade Commission has denied a petition from Scott Zuckerman, the CEO of a company that marketed "stalkerware" apps, to vacate or modify the FTC's 2021 order banning him from offering any monitoring products and services and requiring him to implement an information security program.
In an order denying Zuckerman's petition, the Commission found he failed to show changed conditions of fact or law sufficient to justify reopening
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Denies Petition from SpyFone App CEO to Vacate 2021 Order
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The Federal Trade Commission has denied a petition from Scott Zuckerman, the CEO of a company that marketed "stalkerware" apps, to vacate or modify the FTC's 2021 order banning him from offering any monitoring products and services and requiring him to implement an information security program.
In an order denying Zuckerman's petition, the Commission found he failed to show changed conditions of fact or law sufficient to justify reopeningand setting aside the Consent Order.
In its 2021 complaint, the FTC alleged that Zuckerman and Support King, LLC, which did business as SpyFone.com, sold apps that allowed purchasers to secretly monitor devices without device-owner knowledge, put users at risk by requiring them to disable security protections on those devices, and secretly collected and shared data on photos, text messages, web histories, location, and physical movements.
The order, finalized in late 2021, settling the FTC's allegations bans Support King and Zuckerman from offering, promoting, selling, or advertising any surveillance app, service, or business. It also requires them to develop an information-security program for any business they operate and obtain biennial assessments of that program by a third party and comply with other reporting obligations.
After receiving 27 comments on Zuckerman's petition, the Commission voted 2-0 to deny the petition and respond to the commenters.
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Original text here: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/ftc-denies-petition-spyfone-app-ceo-vacate-2021-order
Commission Vote on Quartz Surface Products from India and Turkey
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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Commission Vote on Quartz Surface Products from India and Turkey
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Bulletin 25-074
Inv. No(s). Inv. Nos. 701-TA-624-625 and 731-TA-1450-1451 (Review)
Contact: Claire Huber, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission has made affirmative determinations in its expedited five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Quartz Surface Products from India and Turkey.
Note to Users: This bulletin will be replaced by the news release when the release is available. News releases are generally
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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Commission Vote on Quartz Surface Products from India and Turkey
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Bulletin 25-074
Inv. No(s). Inv. Nos. 701-TA-624-625 and 731-TA-1450-1451 (Review)
Contact: Claire Huber, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission has made affirmative determinations in its expedited five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Quartz Surface Products from India and Turkey.
Note to Users: This bulletin will be replaced by the news release when the release is available. News releases are generallyissued approximately three hours after a Commission vote.
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Original text here: https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2025/er1208_67787.htm
Acting Chairman Pham Announces Launch of Digital Assets Pilot Program for Tokenized Collateral in Derivatives Markets
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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Acting Chairman Pham Announces Launch of Digital Assets Pilot Program for Tokenized Collateral in Derivatives Markets
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CFTC Issues New Guidance to Provide Regulatory Clarity, Eliminates Outdated Requirements that Hurt Innovation
WASHINGTON Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham today announced the launch of a digital assets pilot program for certain digital assets, including BTC, ETH, and USDC, to be used as collateral in derivatives markets; guidance on
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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Acting Chairman Pham Announces Launch of Digital Assets Pilot Program for Tokenized Collateral in Derivatives Markets
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CFTC Issues New Guidance to Provide Regulatory Clarity, Eliminates Outdated Requirements that Hurt Innovation
WASHINGTON Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham today announced the launch of a digital assets pilot program for certain digital assets, including BTC, ETH, and USDC, to be used as collateral in derivatives markets; guidance ontokenized collateral ; and withdrawal of outdated requirements given the enactment of the GENIUS Act. Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in the expanded adoption of digital assets in regulated markets with appropriate guardrails, and follows the tokenized collateral initiative Acting Chairman Pham launched in September as a part of the CFTC's Crypto Sprint to implement recommendations in the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets report.
"Under my leadership this year, the CFTC has led the way forward into America's Golden Age of Innovation and Crypto. This imperative has never been more important given recent customer losses on non-U.S. crypto exchanges. Americans deserve safe U.S. markets as an alternative to offshore platforms, and that's why last week I announced that spot crypto can now be traded on CFTC registered exchanges," said Acting Chairman Pham. "Today, I am launching a U.S. digital assets pilot program for tokenized collateral, including bitcoin and ether, in our derivatives markets that establishes clear guardrails to protect customer assets and provides enhanced CFTC monitoring and reporting. The CFTC is also providing regulatory clarity through tokenized collateral guidance for real world assets like U.S. Treasuries, and withdrawing CFTC requirements that are now outdated under the GENIUS Act. As I've said before, embracing responsible innovation ensures that U.S. markets are the world leader, and drives progress that will unleash U.S. economic growth because market participants can safely put their dollars to work smarter and go further."
"The CFTC's decision confirms what the crypto industry has long known: That stablecoins and digital assets can make payments faster, cheaper, and reduce risk," said Paul Grewal, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer. "We applaud Acting Chair Caroline Pham and the CFTC for swiftly recognizing that tokenized innovation is the future of finance, and thank Acting Chair Caroline Pham for her leadership and vision. This major unlock is precisely what the Administration and Congress intended the GENIUS Act to enableand will allow digital innovation to transform and improve traditional areas of finance. We encourage other regulators to quickly follow suit."
"Circle applauds Acting Chairman Pham's breakthrough leadership for derivatives markets and responsible innovation," said Heath Tarbert, President of Circle. "Deploying prudentially supervised payment stablecoins across CFTC-regulated markets protects customers, reduces settlement frictions, supports 24/7 risk reduction, and advances U.S. dollar leadership through global regulatory interoperability. Enabling near-real-time margin settlement will also mitigate settlement-failure and liquidity-squeeze risks across evenings, weekends, and holidays. Acting Chairman Pham and the Commission have set a course for the future in which the United States will continue to have the safest, deepest, and most trusted global derivatives markets."
"Today marks an important milestone in the history of the crypto industrywe have been given regulatory certainty for the future," said Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com. "The CFTC guidance on tokenized collateral is the latest example of Acting Chairman Pham delivering on the promise of President Trump to make the United States the 'crypto capital of the world.' Acting Chairman Pham should be commended for these leadership efforts. For years, we have been able to offer tokenized collateral in markets other than the United States. It has only been because of the leadership of Acting Chairman Pham and the CFTC's exclusive jurisdiction over our CFTC-regulated clearinghouse that we will now be able to use tokenized collateral to support our CFTC-regulated crypto and predictions market products, as well as our margined derivatives. This means 24/7 trading is a reality in the United States. We are fully open for business and are excited for this new chapter."
"The CFTC's actions mark a pivotal moment for integrating digital assets into regulated derivatives markets. By recognizing tokenized digital assetsincluding stablecoinsas eligible margin, the CFTC is providing the regulatory clarity needed to move the industry forward," said Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoins at Ripple. "This step will unlock greater capital efficiency and solidify U.S. leadership in financial innovation. At Ripple, we look forward to continuing to partner with the CFTC and the industry to ensure the safe and responsible scaling of digital assets."
Digital Assets Pilot Program and Guidance for Tokenized Collateral
The CFTC's Market Participants Division, Division of Market Oversight, and Division of Clearing and Risk issued new guidance today on the use of tokenized assets as collateral in the trading of futures and swaps. The guidance highlights that CFTC regulations are technology-neutral, and encourages the analysis of tokenized assets on an individual basis in accordance with the CFTC's existing regulatory framework and firms' policies and procedures. The guidance applies to tokenized real world assets, including U.S. Treasury securities and money market funds. Topics include eligible tokenized assets; legal enforceability; segregation, custody and control arrangements; haircuts and valuation; and operational risks.
MPD also issued a no-action position with respect to certain requirements applicable to Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs) that accept non-securities digital assets, including payment stablecoins, as customer margin collateral or hold certain proprietary payment stablecoins in segregated customer accounts. The no-action position provides market participants with regulatory clarity regarding the application of the segregation and capital requirements to FCMs that accept these digital assets as margin collateral, while highlighting the importance of FCMs' maintaining robust risk management practices. By setting up a framework for registered FCMs to accept and take into account the value of non-securities digital asset customer margin collateral and deposit payment stablecoins as residual interest, the no-action letter establishes a pilot program that fosters responsible financial innovation while providing an opportunity for CFTC staff to closely monitor developments associated with non-securities digital asset collateral.
As set forth in the conditions of the letter, during the first three months from the commencement of an FCM's reliance on the no-action position, the digital assets that an FCM could accept as margin collateral will be limited to bitcoin, ether, and USDC. In addition, during this initial period, an FCM relying on the no-action letter will be required to provide weekly reporting of the total amount of digital assets held in customer accounts, listing each asset type separately for each of the three customer account classes, and promptly notify CFTC staff of any significant issue affecting the use of digital assets as customer margin collateral. The frequent reporting and notice requirements will provide an opportunity for CFTC staff to assess the proper application of FCM regulatory requirements without unnecessarily limiting the ability of FCMs to accept digital assets as collateral and deposit proprietary payment stablecoins as residual interest in customer accounts.
Finally, MPD withdrew CFTC Staff Advisory No. 20-34, Accepting Virtual Currencies from Customers into Segregation, effective immediately. That advisory, which was issued by MPD's predecessor division, placed certain restrictions on an FCM's ability to accept virtual currencies as customer collateral. The substantial developments with respect to digital assets and the use of tokenized collateral in the derivatives markets that occurred in the intervening years since its issuance, including the enactment of the GENIUS Act, have rendered the advisory outdated and no longer relevant.
These actions are based on significant stakeholder input and public comments, feedback from a CFTC Crypto CEO Forum, and recommendations from the Digital Asset Markets Subcommittee of the Global Markets Advisory Committee, which Acting Chairman Pham sponsors.
-CFTC-
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Original text here: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9146-25
7-Eleven to Pay Record $4.5 Million Penalty to Settle FTC Antitrust Order Violation Case
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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7-Eleven to Pay Record $4.5 Million Penalty to Settle FTC Antitrust Order Violation Case
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7-Eleven, Inc. and its parent company, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., (collectively 7-Eleven) will pay $4.5 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging that the convenience store chain violated a 2018 FTC consent order by acquiring a fuel outlet in St. Petersburg, Fla. without providing the Commission prior notice.
The $4.5 million penalty marks the largest civil penalty ever collected in an
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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7-Eleven to Pay Record $4.5 Million Penalty to Settle FTC Antitrust Order Violation Case
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7-Eleven, Inc. and its parent company, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., (collectively 7-Eleven) will pay $4.5 million to settle a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging that the convenience store chain violated a 2018 FTC consent order by acquiring a fuel outlet in St. Petersburg, Fla. without providing the Commission prior notice.
The $4.5 million penalty marks the largest civil penalty ever collected in anFTC case involving a prior-notice violation. It is also the largest negotiated settlement of any order violation in the FTC Bureau of Competition's history.
"Under the Trump-Vance FTC, merger remedies that protect competition are once again on the table. But for merger remedies to work, firms must abide by the terms of their consent orders, and we will hold parties accountable when they don't live up to their commitments," said Daniel Guarnera, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "7-Eleven failed to fulfill the terms of the FTC's consent order and is now paying a record price. The FTC will not hesitate to protect the public by actively enforcing order violations and seeking penalties against future violators."
The settlement resolves an FTC lawsuit filed in 2023. That suit arose from a 2018 consent order to resolve the FTC's antitrust claims that 7-Eleven's $3.3 billion acquisition of 1,100 retail fuel outlets from Sunoco would harm competition and raise fuel prices for consumers in 76 local markets. In the consent order, 7-Eleven agreed to divest certain fuel outlets and to provide prior notice to the FTC before making future acquisitions of competing fuel outlets in the local markets. This prior notice allowed the FTC to investigateand, if needed, file an enforcement actionif additional acquisitions by 7-Eleven harmed consumers in these local markets.
The consent order specifically listed the St. Petersburg outlet as one that 7-Eleven could not acquire without providing the FTC with prior notice. According to the FTC's complaint, 7-Eleven acquired the St. Petersburg fuel outlet in December 2018, in violation of the consent order. On March 25, 2022over three years after 7-Eleven acquired the St. Petersburg outlet7-Eleven first informed the Commission it had acquired the St. Petersburg outlet. The FTC found that 7-Eleven's internal controls for ensuring compliance with the consent order were wholly inadequate and that the company failed to implement any meaningful systems to ensure compliance with the Commission order.
In addition to the $4.5 million in civil penalties, 7-Eleven was required to divest the St. Petersburg outlet to a strong buyer. 7-Eleven also agreed to commit to additional prior approval and prior notice requirements, which will help ensure that the Commission is made aware of any attempts by 7-Eleven to further consolidate in the local fuel markets addressed in the FTC's order.
The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the stipulated final judgment and order for permanent injunction and civil penalty was 2-0.
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Original text here: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/7-eleven-pay-record-45-million-penalty-settle-ftc-antitrust-order-violation-case
