Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
NRC Names Victor Hall as Director of International Programs
WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Names Victor Hall as Director of International Programs
Rockville, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that Victor E. Hall has been selected as Director of the Office of International Programs, effective September 2026. He will succeed David Skeen, who will be retiring later this year after 35 years of service at the NRC.
The Office of International Programs coordinates NRC's international activities, including export and import licensing responsibilities and leading NRC engagement
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WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Names Victor Hall as Director of International Programs
Rockville, Md. -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that Victor E. Hall has been selected as Director of the Office of International Programs, effective September 2026. He will succeed David Skeen, who will be retiring later this year after 35 years of service at the NRC.
The Office of International Programs coordinates NRC's international activities, including export and import licensing responsibilities and leading NRC engagementwith foreign regulators and international organizations to advance global nuclear safety and support U.S. regulatory interests abroad. In this role, Hall will guide the agency's international partnerships and represent the NRC in key global forums.
"Vic's forward-thinking leadership and deep international regulatory experience ideally position him for this role," Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. "At a time when America's global nuclear safety leadership is critical for our energy and national security, Vic is the right leader for this role."
Hall currently serves as the Acting Director of the Division of Systems Analysis in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. He has extensive international regulatory experience, including an assignment with France's Autorite de Surete Nucleaire and engagements with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Hall previously served as director of the Vogtle Project Office, overseeing the licensing and construction of the first new U.S. commercial nuclear reactors in more than three decades.
Hall joined the NRC in 2003 through the Nuclear Safety Professional Development Program. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the White House Leadership Development Program and the NRC's Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
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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/2026/26-058.pdf
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice: Conditional Approval, Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, UAS Critical Components From FCC Covered List
WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 18-89; ET Docket No. 21-232; EA Docket No. 21-233):
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The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted Communications
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WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 18-89; ET Docket No. 21-232; EA Docket No. 21-233):
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The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC or Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) maintains a list of equipment and services (Covered List) that have been determined to "pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons."/1 Pursuant to section 2 of the Secure and Trusted CommunicationsNetworks Act of 2019 (Secure Networks Act)/2 and sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules,/3 PSHSB announces that the Department of War (DoW) has granted Conditional Approvals for certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components. Therefore, such devices are exempt from the Covered List.
Recent Commission Actions on UAS and UAS Critical Components:
On December 22, 2025, PSHSB issued a Public Notice adding all UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country to the Covered List./4 This action was based on a National Security Determination from an Executive Branch interagency body, including several appropriate national security agencies, determining (among other things) that UAS and UAS critical components produced in a foreign country pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons. In that Public Notice, we stated, "[i]f we receive a further specific determination from the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security that a given UAS, class of UAS, or UAS critical component does not pose unacceptable risks, we will further update the Covered List."/5
In January 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect DoW's determinations that, until January 1, 2027, UAS and UAS critical components included on DoW's Blue UAS Cleared List and UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as "domestic end products" under the Buy American Standard do not pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons./6 In March 2026, we updated the Covered List to reflect the first Conditional Approvals that the FCC received from the DoW, exempting specific UAS and UAS critical components "which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS" from the Covered List./7
Conditional Approvals:
The Executive Branch interagency body established a process by which entities producing UAS and UAS critical components in foreign countries can request DoW or the Department of Homeland Security to evaluate whether such devices do not pose unacceptable risks to national security and receive Conditional Approvals that would exempt such devices from the Covered List.
DoW has reviewed submissions and granted Conditional Approvals for the following UAS and UAS critical components, terminating on December 31, 2026:
* Blueflite, Inc.'s Cobalt 461 Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) and related UAS critical components including data transmission devices, communications systems, and flight controllers
* Verity AG's Series 4 Indoor Autonomous Inventory System Uncrewed Aircraft System
* Air VEV, Inc.'s 120C and 060C Unmanned Aerial Systems
The Covered List:
We find that each of the Conditional Approvals constitutes "a specific determination" by DoW that such devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security./8 Therefore, we conclude that PSHSB is required to update the Covered List to exclude the equipment identified in these Conditional Approvals.
PSHSB takes this action under its authority and obligation to publish and maintain the Covered List. Sections 1.50002(a) and 1.50003 of the Commission's rules require PSHSB to publish the Covered List on the Commission's website, to maintain and update the Covered List, and to monitor the status of determinations./9
The Covered List and the list of devices that have received Conditional Approvals are attached as Appendices A and B to this Public Notice and can also be found on the Bureau's website at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist./10
We note the continued availability of FCC staff guidance pursuant to sections 0.191 and 0.31(i) of the Commission's rules. Commission staff will provide guidance to TCBs, test labs, and equipment authorization applicants on the impact of these updates.
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Footnotes:
1/ Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-124, 133 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 U.S.C. Sec.Sec. 1601-1609) (Secure Networks Act); 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002, 1.50003. For the current version of the Covered List, see Federal Communications Commission, List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act, https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist (last updated Apr. 14, 2026).
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 1601.
3/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003; see also Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs, WC Docket No. 18-89, Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd 14284 (2020) (Supply Chain Second Report and Order).
4/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Addition of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components Produced Abroad, and Equipment and Services Listed in Section 1709 of the FY2025 NDAA, to FCC Covered List, WC Docket 18-89, Public Notice, DA 25-1086 (Dec 22, 2025) (UAS Public Notice).
5/ UAS Public Notice at 3.
6/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Exemption of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-22 (Jan. 7, 2026) (Second UAS Public Notice).
7/ Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Conditional Approval of Certain Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components and Exemption from FCC Covered List, WC Docket No. 18-89, Public Notice, DA 26-253 (Mar. 18, 2026) (Third UAS Public Notice).
8/ See Second UAS Public Notice, Appx. B.
9/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.50002(a), 1.50003. See Supply Chain Second Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 14319, 14325, paras. 72, 77, 92.
10/ The FCC website also contains a list of certain affiliates and subsidiaries of entities identified on the Covered List. The list of affiliates and subsidiaries does not constitute a comprehensive list of all entities that the Commission may find, upon further examination, to qualify as relevant subsidiaries or affiliates of entities on the Covered List. Those entities, whether or not they currently provide covered communications equipment or services, are subject to the Commission's prohibitions, such as the prohibition against obtaining authorizations for covered equipment. See Reminder: Communications Equipment And Services On The Covered List Pose An Unacceptable Risk To National Security, National Security Advisory No. 2025-01, DA 25-927, n.3 (PSHSB Oct. 14, 2025).
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-524A1.pdf
FCC Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Issues Public Notice: Comment Dates for Know-Your-Customer Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued the following public notice (CG Dockets No. 17-59, 02-278):
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On May 1, 2026, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on information that originating voice service providers must obtain from customers before they make calls, how providers should verify that information, and penalties for violations./1
The Notice sets deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days after publication of a summary in the Federal Register.
On
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WASHINGTON, May 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued the following public notice (CG Dockets No. 17-59, 02-278):
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On May 1, 2026, the Commission released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on information that originating voice service providers must obtain from customers before they make calls, how providers should verify that information, and penalties for violations./1
The Notice sets deadlines for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days after publication of a summary in the Federal Register.
OnMay 26, 2026, a summary of the item was published in the Federal Register./2
Accordingly, comments are due on or before June 25, 2026 and reply comments are due on or before July 27, 2026.
Complete comment filing instructions are set forth in the Notice./3
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Footnotes:
1/ See Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls; Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CG Docket Nos. 17- 59, 02-278; Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 26-27 (2026) (Notice).
2/ Federal Communications Commission, Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls; Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 91 Fed. Reg. 30596 (May 26, 2026).
3/ Notice at para. 41.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-523A1.pdf
EEOC Sues Buc-ee's for Disability Discrimination
WASHINGTON, May 26 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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EEOC Sues Buc-ee's, Ltd. for Disability Discrimination
Federal lawsuit says travel center refused reasonable accommodation for cashier with myasthenia gravis, then fired him
AUSTIN, Texas -Buc-ee's, Ltd., a travel center retailer with locations throughout Texas and in 10 other states, violated federal law when it denied a disabled employee reasonable accommodations and subsequently terminated him, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced today.
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WASHINGTON, May 26 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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EEOC Sues Buc-ee's, Ltd. for Disability Discrimination
Federal lawsuit says travel center refused reasonable accommodation for cashier with myasthenia gravis, then fired him
AUSTIN, Texas -Buc-ee's, Ltd., a travel center retailer with locations throughout Texas and in 10 other states, violated federal law when it denied a disabled employee reasonable accommodations and subsequently terminated him, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced today.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a Buc-ee's cashier in Bastrop, Texas requested a reasonable accommodation in October 2024 for physician-imposed restrictions related to his disability, myasthenia gravis, a chronic neuromuscular condition. Among the accommodations he requested was to have seating available at his workstation so that he could avoid standing continuously for more than 15 minutes at a time and regain his stamina after standing. But Buc-ee's denied the cashier's request, requiring that he stand continuously, and eventually the company fired him after he was unable to return to work due to denial of his accommodation request, the EEOC charged.
"All too often, employers run afoul of their duty under federal law to provide reasonable accommodations because of inflexible thinking, unwarranted assumptions, and failure to seek technical assistance that is available, often at little or no cost," said acting EEOC Dallas Regional Attorney Ronald L. Phillips. "Compliance with disability law begins with having the right mindset - a genuine desire to help your workers, listening to their concerns, and being open to new ideas and technical assistance are keys to avoiding liability."
The type of conduct alleged in the EEOC's complaint violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers' disabilities unless doing so would cause an undue hardship on the business. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Buc-ee's, Ltd., Case No. 1:26-CV-0139) in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
"Employers must understand that disability accommodations are not optional suggestions; they are legal obligations." said EEOC San Antonio Field Office Director Norma Guzman. "When employees come forward asking for support that allows them to do their jobs, employers must act diligently and in good faith. Rejecting those requests without legal justification doesn't just break the law, it harms workers' economic security and ultimately damages the employers themselves through loss of experienced workers and reduction of employee morale and productivity."
For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination.
The EEOC's Dallas District Office has jurisdiction over a substantial part of Texas and parts of southern New Mexico.
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 also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-sues-buc-ees-ltd-disability-discrimination
FEC Issues Digest for Week of May 18-22, 2026
WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
Seegers v. FEC (Case No. 26-276) On May 18, Plaintiff filed a Declaration in Support of Request for Clerk's Entry of Default Under Fed R. Civ. P. 55(a) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
SMP v. FEC (Case No. 26-336) On April 8, Plaintiff filed an Affidavit in Support of Default, and on May 18, the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a Reply in Support
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WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
Seegers v. FEC (Case No. 26-276) On May 18, Plaintiff filed a Declaration in Support of Request for Clerk's Entry of Default Under Fed R. Civ. P. 55(a) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
SMP v. FEC (Case No. 26-336) On April 8, Plaintiff filed an Affidavit in Support of Default, and on May 18, the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a Reply in Supportof its Motion to Dismiss in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
SMP v. FEC (Case No. 26-337) On April 8, Plaintiff filed an Affidavit in Support of Default in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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Reports Due in 2026
The Commission has posted the 2026 Congressional Pre-Election Reporting Dates. Reporting schedules for all filers in 2026 are also available.
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Election Dates
The Commission has posted a list of 2026 Congressional Primary Dates.
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Employment opportunities
The Commission is accepting applications for the position of IT Project Manager (ENTARCH) through June 4, 2026.
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Upcoming educational opportunities
June 2-3, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar for trade associations and their PACs.
June 17, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host an Advanced FECFile for Candidate Committees webinar.
June 24, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host reporting and FECFile webinars for candidate committees.
For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission's Trainings page.
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Upcoming reporting due dates
June 20: June Monthly Reports are due. For more information, see the 2026 Monthly Reporting schedule.
The Commission has posted information regarding updated reporting deadlines as some states reschedule congressional primary elections.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the California 1st District Special General Election, scheduled for June 2, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 4, 2026.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the California 14th District Special General Election, scheduled for June 16, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 18, 2026.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the Georgia 13th District Special General Election, scheduled for July 28, 2026, and Special Runoff Election (if necessary), scheduled for August 25, 2026.
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Additional research materials
Contribution Limits: In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.
Federal election results are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.
FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.
The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives, and other financial filings.
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax Checkoff Chart provides information on balance of the Fund, monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Department of the Treasury, payments from the Fund as certified by the FEC, and participation rates of taxpayers as reported by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on the Presidential Public Funding Program, see the Public Funding of Presidential Elections page.
The FEC Record is available as a continuously updated online news source.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/week-of-may-18-22-2026/
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice Establishing Pleading Cycle for Comments on AT&T Services Petition for Forbearance From ETC Requirements
WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-123):
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The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on a petition filed by AT&T Services, Inc./1 AT&T requests full forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier requirements set forth in Section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, within its California service territory./2
Pursuant to section 1.55 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 1.55, interested parties may file comments or oppositions to the AT&T Forbearance
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WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (WC Docket No. 26-123):
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The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on a petition filed by AT&T Services, Inc./1 AT&T requests full forbearance from the eligible telecommunications carrier requirements set forth in Section 214(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, within its California service territory./2
Pursuant to section 1.55 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Sec. 1.55, interested parties may file comments or oppositions to the AT&T ForbearancePetition on or before June 22, 2026 and reply comments on or before July 7, 2026. All pleadings should reference WC Docket No. 26-123 and may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)./3
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the 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.
- 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.
- Filing 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 for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding in this Notice shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules./4 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) of the Commission's rules./5 In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the rules 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)./6 Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
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Footnotes:
1/ Petition of AT&T for Forbearance under 47 U.S.C. Sec. 160(c), WC Docket No. 26-123 (filed May 20, 2026) (AT&T Forbearance Petition).
2/ 47 U.S.C. Sec. 214(e); AT&T Forbearance Petition at 26. AT&T states that its remaining requirements in California under Section 214(e) only include general voice and Lifeline voice. AT&T Forbearance Petition at 5, 13, 16, 26.
3/ See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998).
4/ See 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
5/ Id. Sec. 1.1206(b).
6/ Id.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-518A1.pdf
FCC Media Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition by Disney ABC Asking FCC to Declare That View Qualifies as Bona Fide News Interview Program
WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following public notice (MB Docket No. 26-124):
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1. On May 7, 2026, the Disney owned TV station KTRK-TV, Houston, Texas, and KTRK-TV's parent company, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC), filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling (Petition) in which the companies ask the FCC to declare that the daytime TV talk show The View qualifies as a bona fide news interview program./1 Currently, The View is co-hosted by Joy Behar, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro.
2.
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WASHINGTON, May 23 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau issued the following public notice (MB Docket No. 26-124):
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1. On May 7, 2026, the Disney owned TV station KTRK-TV, Houston, Texas, and KTRK-TV's parent company, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (ABC), filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling (Petition) in which the companies ask the FCC to declare that the daytime TV talk show The View qualifies as a bona fide news interview program./1 Currently, The View is co-hosted by Joy Behar, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro.
2.Decades ago, Congress made the decision to prevent covered broadcast television programs from being used to advance certain partisan political purposes. Specifically, through section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934, Congress put protections in place to ensure equal access to broadcast station facilities for legally qualified candidates for office, regardless of political affiliation. Under the law, if a broadcast station permits any legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it shall provide an equal opportunity to all other legally qualified candidates for that office. The federal equal opportunities regulations operate to prevent broadcast television stations, which have been given access to a valuable public resource (namely, spectrum), from unfairly putting their thumbs on the scale for one political candidate or set of candidates over another.
3. These regulations, which do not apply to cable channels or other forms of distribution, represent, in codified form, the decision by Congress for broadcast television stations to have an obligation to operate in the public interest--not in any narrow partisan, political interest./2 The political equal opportunity regulations do not prohibit anyone from interviewing any political candidate. Rather, they generally require that a broadcaster must provide comparable time and placement to opposing legally qualified candidates. As the FCC has stated, the statutory equal opportunities requirement and the corresponding FCC rules seek to ensure that no legally qualified candidate for office is unfairly given less access to the public airwaves than their opponent.
4. At the same time, Congress has adopted certain limited exceptions to the equal opportunities requirement. For instance, Congress carved out an exception for programs that qualify as a bona fide news interview program. The idea, the FCC has stated, is that a qualifying program could have political candidates on air if, among other things, the candidates are chosen based on their newsworthiness rather than on the intention to oppose or support a particular candidate. And Congress provided the FCC with discretion to determine the scope of each exemption.
5. When considering the scope of an exemption related to a specific program, the FCC has long sought to ensure "that the content, format and participants not be intended for the political advantage of candidates."/3 Indeed, the FCC has specifically noted that certain programs that might otherwise be exempt would be excluded from an exemption category if the program was "designed for the specific advantage of a candidate."/4
6. As noted above, KTRK and ABC argue in their Petition that The View qualifies as a bona fide news interview program under FCC precedents. The companies also suggest in their Petition that they believe the federal equal opportunities statute itself would not survive First Amendment scrutiny today or at least if it is applied today to The View would not survive any such review. The companies also point to a letter from an FCC staffer from 2002 in support of their argument that The View qualifies as bona fide news.
7. By this Public Notice, the FCC's Media Bureau seeks comment on the Petition. Does The View qualify as a bona fide news interview program? Does the federal equal opportunities statute pass relevant constitutional scrutiny, either as a general matter or as applied here? Are the relevant decisions on The View, including on format and participants, based on newsworthiness or on an attempt to oppose or support particular candidates within the meaning of FCC precedent? We welcome comment on these and any other relevant points.
8. Ex Parte Rules. The proceeding this 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. 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.
9. 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 rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 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.
10. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using ECFS.
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the 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. 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.
11. 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 & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
12. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex parte submissions will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.
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Footnotes:
1/ Petition for Declaratory Ruling of KTRK Television, Inc. and American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (filed May 7, 2026), available at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/10522087167981.
2/ FCC's Media Bureau Provides Guidance on Political Equal Opportunities Requirement for Broadcast Television Stations, Public Notice, DA 26-68, 2026 WL 208684, (MB Jan. 21, 2026).
3/ Request for Declaratory Ruling That Independently Produced Bona Fide News Interview Programs Qualify for the Equal Opportunities Exemption Provided in Section 315(a)(2) of the Communications Act, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 7 FCC Rcd 4681, 4685, para. 26 (1992); see also Nebraska Broadcasters Association, Declaratory Ruling, 21 FCC Rcd 10742, 10743, para. 5 (MB 2006) ("[T]he licensees of the stations on which the subject programs air remain ultimately responsible for a determination to air a particular program and should not do so for the political advantage of a candidate for public office.").
4/ Petitions of the Aspen Institute Program on Communications and Society and CBS, Inc. for Revision or Clarification of Commission Rulings Under Section 315(a)(2) and 315(a)(4), Memorandum Opinion and Order, 55 FCC 2d 697, 705 (1975).
5/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 1.1200 et seq.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-517A1.pdf
