Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
FCC: President Trump Unleashes American Innovation With 6 GHz Win
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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President Trump Unleashes American Innovation With 6 GHz Win
FCC to Vote on Enabling Better, Faster Wi-Fi and Next-Gen Connectivity
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the FCC will vote this month on an Order to enhance unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band. Specifically, the FCC will vote to create a new category of unlicensed devices--GVP devices--that can operate outdoors and at higher power than previously authorized devices.
As the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Jan. 7, 2026:
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President Trump Unleashes American Innovation With 6 GHz Win
FCC to Vote on Enabling Better, Faster Wi-Fi and Next-Gen Connectivity
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the FCC will vote this month on an Order to enhance unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band. Specifically, the FCC will vote to create a new category of unlicensed devices--GVP devices--that can operate outdoors and at higher power than previously authorized devices.
As the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)kicks off this week in Las Vegas, the FCC's action today in 6 GHz promises more jaw-dropping innovations and massive consumer benefits for years to come, driving growth in wireless, IoT, and related industries. GVP devices will support high data rates suitable for AR/VR, short-range hotspots, automation, and indoor navigation. GVP devices will overcome limitations of previous device classes by allowing higher power and outdoor mobility.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"President Trump is unleashing American innovation and leadership. This is great news for consumers that will benefit from even better, faster, and more affordable wireless services. By voting this month to expand unlicensed operations in the 6 GHz band, the FCC enables consumers to benefit from supercharged Wi-Fi and a new generation of wireless devices--from AR/VR and IoT to a range of innovative smart devices. This puts America back at the forefront of technological leadership, benefiting our consumers, economy, and innovators."
Additional Background Information:
Geofenced variable power (GVP) devices promise to overcome technical and regulatory constraints of other low power devices such as low power indoor (LPI) and very low power (VLP) devices. GVP devices offer data rates suitable for reality/virtual reality, short-range hotspots, automation processes, and indoor location and navigation because they operate at significantly higher power than VLP devices. At the same time, GVP devices need not be restricted indoors, as is the case with LPI. These benefits will be made possible by restricting GVP devices from operating in exclusion zones on certain frequencies to protect incumbent licensed services from any significant risk of harmful interference.
In addition to the proposed Order creating a new category of GVP devices, the Commission will seek comment on proposals that could provide more utility for unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band. Specifically, the FCC would seek comment on a proposal to allow composite standard-power and LPI access points to operate with additional power under certain circumstances, and a proposal to permit LPI access points to operate on cruise ships.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-417522A1.pdf
TEG Staffing, Inc. to Pay $185,000 in EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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TEG Staffing, Inc. to Pay $185,000 in EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit
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Staffing agency settles federal suit charging it fired pregnant employees
LOS ANGELES - TEG Staffing, Inc., doing business as Eastridge Workforce Solutions, a southern California-based staffing agency, agreed to pay $185,000 and provide other injunctive relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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TEG Staffing, Inc. to Pay $185,000 in EEOC Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit
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Staffing agency settles federal suit charging it fired pregnant employees
LOS ANGELES - TEG Staffing, Inc., doing business as Eastridge Workforce Solutions, a southern California-based staffing agency, agreed to pay $185,000 and provide other injunctive relief to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
Accordingto the EEOC's lawsuit, a female employee assigned by the company to work at Feit Electric's Pico Rivera, California warehouse location was subjected to sex discrimination when she was discharged by Eastridge and Feit because of her pregnancy. In addition, the lawsuit charged that other female employees handled by Eastridge were discriminated against in violation of federal law because of their pregnancy since at least 2019.
"Employers must ensure they are in compliance with federal law and provide training for supervisors and managers to understand their responsibilities to prevent pregnancy discrimination," said Anna Y. Park, regional attorney for the EEOC's Los Angeles district. "We commend TEG Staffing, Inc. for providing redress to those affected by discrimination and for putting in place injunctive relief that will have a lasting impact on current and future employees."
Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. TEG Staffing, Inc., d/b/a Eastridge Workforce Solutions; Feit Electric, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-09314) in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
"Federal law includes robust protections for pregnant women that employers must comply with," said Christine Park-Gonzalez, director of the EEOC's Los Angeles district. "Employers are encouraged to provide ongoing training to frontline supervisors to ensure they are up to date on the most current requirements of federal law."
Under the three year consent decree signed Dec. 23, 2025, TEG Staffing, Inc. agreed to pay $185,000 in monetary relief, and will expunge personnel records, provide neutral references, and consider reinstatement of affected former employees identified as part of this case. The company will also review its anti-discrimination policies and procedures to ensure its policies conform with federal law. Any updated policy will be distributed to all temporary and permanent employees. The company will also publish a statement on its website noting its status as an equal opportunity employer; provide training on federal law prohibiting pregnancy discrimination; establish a toll-free phone number and an email address for employees to report discrimination; and maintain appropriate recordkeeping.
The consent decree also provides for a claims process for employees who worked for the company to file claims to share in the distribution of the $185,000 monetary settlement. Current and former employess who believe they experienced pregnancy discrimination while working at TEG Staffing, Inc. since 2019, should call (213) 371-5230 or send an email to eastridgeclaims@eeoc.gov for more instructions on how to file a claim.
For more information on pregnancy discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination.
The EEOC's Los Angeles District includes central and southern California, southern Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands, with offices in Los Angeles, Fresno, Las Vegas, San Diego and Honolulu.
The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division; the EEOC is responsible for investigating charges against state and local government employers before referring them to DOJ for potential litigation. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
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Original text here: https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/teg-staffing-inc-pay-185000-eeoc-pregnancy-discrimination-lawsuit
SEC Proposes Amendments to the Small Entity Definitions for Investment Companies and Investment Advisers for Purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Proposes Amendments to the Small Entity Definitions for Investment Companies and Investment Advisers for Purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to the rules that define which registered investment companies, investment advisers, and business development companies qualify as small entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).
The RFA requires federal agencies to conduct certain analyses, with the goal
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following news release:
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SEC Proposes Amendments to the Small Entity Definitions for Investment Companies and Investment Advisers for Purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
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The Securities and Exchange Commission today proposed amendments to the rules that define which registered investment companies, investment advisers, and business development companies qualify as small entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).
The RFA requires federal agencies to conduct certain analyses, with the goalof minimizing the significant economic impact of federal rulemaking on small entities. This proposal would raise the small entity thresholds for investment companies and advisers. It is designed to help the Commission better tailor its analyses to address the specific regulatory challenges that these small entities face and consider adapting its rulemaking accordingly.
"The Commission has a longstanding commitment to understanding and addressing the concerns of small entities," said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. "Today's proposal - consistent with the SEC's intent to modernize regulatory requirements - would further this commitment by more accurately capturing the types and numbers of investment advisers and investment companies that are 'small.' This, in turn, would help the Commission more appropriately promote the effectiveness and efficiency of its regulations, with the goal of minimizing the significant economic impact on small entities."
Specifically, this proposal would:
* Increase the asset-based thresholds under which investment companies and investment advisers are deemed small entities;
* Update the way that related funds' assets are aggregated for purposes of defining small entities; and
* Provide for inflation adjustments to the asset-based thresholds by order every 10 years.
The proposing release will be published in the Federal Register. The public comment period will remain open until 60 days after the date of publication of the proposing release in the Federal Register.
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-1-sec-proposes-amendments-small-entity-definitions-investment-companies-investment-advisers-purposes
SEC Obtains Final Judgment as to Private Equity Firm & Managing Partner in Alleged Offering Fraud
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:24-cv-05823-RS; N.D. Cal. filed Aug. 23, 2024):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz, et al., No. 3:24-cv-05823-RS (N.D. Cal. filed Aug. 23, 2024)
On December 16, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered a final judgment as to Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz, his private equity firm, Toltec Capital LLC, and two relief defendants, in connection with previously filed fraud charges.
The SEC's complaint, filed on August 23, 2024,
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 3:24-cv-05823-RS; N.D. Cal. filed Aug. 23, 2024):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz, et al., No. 3:24-cv-05823-RS (N.D. Cal. filed Aug. 23, 2024)
On December 16, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered a final judgment as to Bernardo Mendia-Alcaraz, his private equity firm, Toltec Capital LLC, and two relief defendants, in connection with previously filed fraud charges.
The SEC's complaint, filed on August 23, 2024,alleged that from at least December 2019 through September 2023, the defendants raised approximately $3.3 million from investors by making false and misleading statements. According to the complaint, Mendia-Alcaraz used investor funds to make Ponzi-like payments to other investors and for personal expenses. The complaint also alleged that relief defendants, Edith F. Ramirez Cano and Fondo Toltec S de RL de CV, received proceeds from the alleged fraudulent scheme.
The final judgment, entered by default, permanently enjoins Mendia-Alcaraz and Toltec Capital from violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Sections 5(a) and (c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Sections 206(1), 206(2), and 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Rule 206(4)-8 thereunder; permanently enjoins Mendia-Alcaraz from participating in the issuance, purchase, offer or sale of securities, except for purchases or sales for his personal accounts; and prohibits Mendia-Alcaraz from serving as an officer or director of a publicly traded company. The final judgment also holds Mendia-Alcaraz and Toltec Capital jointly and severally liable for disgorgement of $2,207,524 and prejudgment interest of $150,866, and, of those amounts, holds relief defendants Fondo Toltec and Ramirez Cano liable--jointly and severally with the defendants--for disgorgement of $554,563 and $3,654, respectively, plus prejudgment interest of $37,899 and $249, respectively. Lastly, the final judgment orders Mendia-Alcaraz to pay a civil penalty of $2,207,524.
The SEC's litigation was led by Daniel Ball, with the assistance of Zachary Scrima, under the supervision of David Nasse. The investigation was conducted by Daniel Ball, Laura Cunningham, and Zachary Scrima, under the supervision of Melissa A. Robertson and Pei Y. Chung.
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Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26457.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26457
SEC Charges 3 Brothers With Allegedly Manipulating 2 Pharma Company Stocks & Carrying Out $41 Million Insider Trading Scheme With 3 Friends
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 2:25-cv-18864; D.N.J. filed Dec. 22, 2025):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Muhammad Saad Shoukat, et al., No. 2:25-cv-18864 (D.N.J. filed Dec. 22, 2025)
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged three Pakistani and U.S. nationals Muhammad Saad Shoukat, Muhammad Arham Shoukat, and Muhammad Shahwaiz Shoukat, with allegedly perpetrating two market manipulation schemes, and along with three friends, carrying out a $41 million insider trading scheme.
The complaint alleges that
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 2:25-cv-18864; D.N.J. filed Dec. 22, 2025):
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Muhammad Saad Shoukat, et al., No. 2:25-cv-18864 (D.N.J. filed Dec. 22, 2025)
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged three Pakistani and U.S. nationals Muhammad Saad Shoukat, Muhammad Arham Shoukat, and Muhammad Shahwaiz Shoukat, with allegedly perpetrating two market manipulation schemes, and along with three friends, carrying out a $41 million insider trading scheme.
The complaint alleges thatthe Shoukat brothers manipulated the securities of Olema Pharmaceuticals, Inc and Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. According to the complaint, in the scheme involving Olema, Saad and Arham Shoukat impersonated physicians to steal confidential information about Olema's clinical trials and then stole the identities of metastatic breast cancer patients on online patient forums to publish falsified clinical trial results that increased Olema's stock price. In the alleged scheme involving Opiant, the three Shoukat brothers purchased Opiant stock based on a tip that another company would soon acquire Opiant. When the acquisition stalled, they allegedly threatened Opiant leadership and issued a false press release that announced a fictitious partnership deal for Opiant's lead drug candidate, increased Opiant's stock price, and allowed the Shoukat brothers to sell their Opiant stock more profitably than they would have otherwise.
The alleged insider trading scheme took place from at least June 2020 through February 2024, and involved the Shoukat brothers and three friends, Izunna Okonkwo, a U.S. and Nigerian national, Daniyal Khan, a U.K. national, and Justin Kim, a U.S. national. According to the complaint, Kim, an investment banker, tipped Saad Shoukat with material nonpublic information obtained from Kim's firm about nine potential corporate acquisitions. As alleged, Saad Shoukat then tipped his brothers, Okonkwo, and Khan. The SEC alleges that the defendants' and relief defendants' combined profits from the scheme totaled approximately $41 million.
The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, charges the Shoukat brothers with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, all defendants with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5 thereunder, and all defendants except Khan for violating Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and Rule 14e-3 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and an injunction against Kim permanently prohibiting Kim from acting as or being associated with any broker, dealer, or investment adviser. The complaint also seeks disgorgement and prejudgment interest from Mishal Anwar and Gozie Okonkwo, relief defendants whose accounts were used to generate illicit profits.
In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey announced criminal charges against the Shoukat brothers, Kim, Okonkwo, and Khan.
The SEC's investigation was conducted by Tracy Sivitz and supervised by Assunta Vivolo and Joseph Sansone, all of the Enforcement Division's Market Abuse Unit. Assisting with the investigation were John Rymas and Darren Boerner of the Market Abuse Unit's Analysis and Detection Center, Maxwell Clark, Ryan Erhard, Jason Lee, and William Young of the SEC's Division of Economic and Research Analysis, Izabela Reis and Marianne Olson of the SEC's Office of International Affairs, and James D'Avino of the SEC's New York Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Senior Trial Counsel Ben Kuruvilla and Ms. Sivitz and will be supervised by Jack Kaufman of the New York Regional Office and Ms. Vivolo. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
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Resources
* SEC Complaint (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2026/comp26458.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26458
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Office of Management & Budget Approval of IPCS Alternate Pricing Plan Requirements Announced
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket Nos. 23-62, 12-375) on Jan. 6, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the revised information collection requirement associated with section 64.6140 of the Commission's rules/1 governing alternate pricing plans for incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS), which were adopted in the Commission's 2024 IPCS Order./2 Those requirements are now effective.
In
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket Nos. 23-62, 12-375) on Jan. 6, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the revised information collection requirement associated with section 64.6140 of the Commission's rules/1 governing alternate pricing plans for incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS), which were adopted in the Commission's 2024 IPCS Order./2 Those requirements are now effective.
Inthe 2024 IPCS Order, the Commission reformed its regulation of IPCS, and permitted IPCS providers to offer optional alternate pricing plans, subject to consumer protection, disclosure, recordkeeping, and other requirements designed to ensure IPCS rates and practices are just and reasonable and that consumers receive clear and accurate information regarding IPCS offerings./3 The Commission submitted its revisions to the relevant information collection to OMB for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act/4 and, on December 19, 2025, OMB approved the revised information collection./5
For further information, please contact Sara Rahmjoo, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-0242 or via e-mail at Sara.Rahmjoo@fcc.gov.
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Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 64.6140.
2/ Incarcerated People's Communications Services; Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act; Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services, WC Docket Nos. 23-62 and 12-375, Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, Clarification and Waiver, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 39 FCC Rcd 7647, 794044, paras. 565-72 (2024) (2024 IPCS Order).
3/ 2024 IPCS Order, 39 FCC Rcd at 7875, paras. 427-428.
4/ 2024 IPCS Order, 39 FCC Rcd at 7944, para. 572 & n.2044; id. at 7968, para. 641 (directing WCB to conduct and submit any requisite Paperwork Reduction Act analysis for any changes to the annual report and certification requirements). This information collection, OMB Control No. 3060-1222, is titled "Incarcerated People's Communications Services (IPCS) Provider Annual Reporting, Certification, and Other Requirements, WC Docket Nos. 23-62, 12-375" and, among other things, sets out the requirements for the annual reports and certifications filed by IPCS providers.
5/ See Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Notice of Action, https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202511-3060-004 (last visited Jan. 5, 2026) (approving without change OMB Control No. 3060-1222).
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-13A1.pdf
FCC Streamlines FM Table of Allotments Following Station Licensing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Federal Communications Commission has issued an order to modify the FM Table of Allotments, removing several vacant entries that have transitioned to authorized licensed stations. This administrative update follows the conclusion of FM Broadcast Auction 109 and affects various locations across the United States.
The action, titled "Amendment of Section 73.202(b), FM Table of Allotments, FM Broadcast Stations" (No. DA 26-11), reflects the agency's effort to maintain an accurate list of available broadcast frequencies. Under current procedures, once an allotment is successfully
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 -- The Federal Communications Commission has issued an order to modify the FM Table of Allotments, removing several vacant entries that have transitioned to authorized licensed stations. This administrative update follows the conclusion of FM Broadcast Auction 109 and affects various locations across the United States.
The action, titled "Amendment of Section 73.202(b), FM Table of Allotments, FM Broadcast Stations" (No. DA 26-11), reflects the agency's effort to maintain an accurate list of available broadcast frequencies. Under current procedures, once an allotment is successfullyauctioned and a station is authorized, the entry is removed from the public Table of Allotments. These assignments are instead tracked within the Media Bureau's Licensing Management System.
Because the specific channels listed in the order have already passed through the required notice and comment rulemaking phases during the auction process, the Media Bureau determined that further public proceedings are unnecessary. Nazifa Sawez, Assistant Chief of the Audio Division, noted that this move constitutes an editorial change to ensure federal records match the current status of the airwaves. The Commission clarified that the rules adopted in this order are of "particular applicability," meaning they apply to specific entities rather than the general public. As such, the order will not be submitted for review under the Congressional Review Act.
The changes to the Table of FM Allotments become effective immediately upon their publication in the Federal Register. Parties seeking information regarding specific community allotments or the status of licensed stations may access the Licensing Management System or contact the Audio Division of the Media Bureau directly. This update ensures that the Table of FM Allotments remains a resource for identifying truly vacant channels available for future broadcast opportunities, while licensed operations are managed through the Bureau's primary licensing database.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-11A1.pdf
