Featured Stories
SEC Obtains Final Consent Judgment as to Michael J. Forster in Connection With Alleged Pump-and-Dump Scheme
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 22-civ-627; S.D. Cal. filed May 4, 2022) involving Michael J. Forster:
* * *
On July 13, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California entered a final consent judgment as to Michael J. Forster in connection with his role in an alleged pump-and-dump scheme.
The SEC filed its complaint against Forsteron May 4, 2022. The SEC's complaint alleged that between February and August 2012, Forster orchestrated a pump-and-dump scheme in the stock of Cuba Beverage Company.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release (No. 22-civ-627; S.D. Cal. filed May 4, 2022) involving Michael J. Forster:
* * *
On July 13, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California entered a final consent judgment as to Michael J. Forster in connection with his role in an alleged pump-and-dump scheme.
The SEC filed its complaint against Forsteron May 4, 2022. The SEC's complaint alleged that between February and August 2012, Forster orchestrated a pump-and-dump scheme in the stock of Cuba Beverage Company.In connection with the scheme, Forster allegedly controlled the issuer, engaged in manipulative trading, and promoted the stock to retail investors. When investors began buying the stock, Forster would allegedly sell his shares, which netted him $144,320 in that period.
The SEC charged Forster with violations of Sections 9(a)(2) and 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder as well as Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. The Court entered a partial consent judgment with Forster on May 20, 2022. This judgment permanently enjoined him from further violations of the charged provisions of the federal securities laws and imposed a penny stock bar.
The final consent judgment issued on July 13, 2026, orders Forster to pay disgorgement of $144,320 and prejudgment interest thereon of $12,040, payment of which is deemed satisfied by the order of forfeiture entered against him in the parallel criminal action, United States v. Forster, 20 cr. 325 (S.D. Cal.).
The SEC's litigation was led by Christopher J. Dunnigan and Lindsay S. Moilanen, and was supervised by Christopher Colorado and Sheldon L. Pollock. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California and the FBI.
* * *
Resources
* Final Judgment (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26586.pdf)
* * *
Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26586
FCC to Vote on Replacing National Broadcast Ownership Cap
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on July 15, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
* * *
FCC to Vote on Replacing National Broadcast Ownership Cap
New Rules Would Adopt a Case-by-Case Review That Only Authorizes Deals That Satisfy Agency's Public Interest Review Standard
-
Today, Chairman Brendan Carr published an op-ed in Breitbart announcing that the FCC will vote on August 6 on an Order that repeals the FCC's 39% national television multiple ownership rule. Specifically, the FCC will vote to replace the national cap with a granular, case-by-case
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on July 15, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
* * *
FCC to Vote on Replacing National Broadcast Ownership Cap
New Rules Would Adopt a Case-by-Case Review That Only Authorizes Deals That Satisfy Agency's Public Interest Review Standard
-
Today, Chairman Brendan Carr published an op-ed in Breitbart announcing that the FCC will vote on August 6 on an Order that repeals the FCC's 39% national television multiple ownership rule. Specifically, the FCC will vote to replace the national cap with a granular, case-by-casereview. This will empower the FCC to approve deals that promote the public interest while allowing the agency to reject any deals that do not meet that standard. This action will foster a competitive media market, enhance localism, and promote investment in trusted sources of news and information.
Additional Background Information:
Today, the Commission exercises its authority to modify the FCC rule for the first time in over 20 years--aligning it with current market realities. In its current formulation, the national cap generally has operated as a blanket prohibition on transactions that would result in the merged entity achieving a national audience reach greater than 39% of television households. As applied, the rule generally has presumed that it would not be in the public interest to allow a particular deal in excess of this bright line limit.
Shifting from a relatively inflexible, ex ante regulation to an individualized, case-by-case assessment will help ensure that the Commission carries out its statutory mandates in an appropriate manner without having to show special circumstances that would justify a waiver of a rule that no longer serves the public interest.
Strict ownership limits on local broadcasters that prevent them from competing with other players in the modern marketplace are not in the public interest. While competitors are free to reach 100% of their relevant market segments, this FCC rule has generally limited broadcasters to competing for just 39% of theirs.
Under a case-by-case approach, the Commission's interests in localism, viewpoint diversity, and competition (to the extent they are implicated in a case) can be fully analyzed and vindicated in the context of a specific transaction. There may be transactions that would have exceeded the limits of the 39% national cap that do not promote the public interest and those will be denied. On the other hand, there may be transactions that would have exceeded the cap that do promote the public interest and could gain Commission approval.
Under these proposed new rules, any transaction that would have been barred under a strict application of the current rule will be subject to the Commission's regular review process to determine whether approval would serve the public interest. In addition, the proposed rules demonstrate that this action is within the Commission's statutory authority to repeal the rule, as multiple agency Chairs--both Republican and Democrat alike--have consistently stated. While Congress has at times directed the Commission to change our rules, it has never withdrawn our authority under the Communications Act to regulate or change ownership limits.
The draft Order will be made available to the public tomorrow on FCC.gov: https://www.fcc.gov/August2026.
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423080A1.pdf
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice: Proposed North American Numbering Plan Administration Fund Size Estimate, Contribution Factor for FY 2027
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (CC Docket No. 92-237):
* * *
In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the proposed North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administration fund size estimate and contribution factor for the fiscal year October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (Fiscal Year 2027). Proper funding of NANP administration ensures that consumers will continue to have access to the numbering resources essential to the provision of new services and technologies.
A. Calculating
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (CC Docket No. 92-237):
* * *
In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the proposed North American Numbering Plan (NANP) administration fund size estimate and contribution factor for the fiscal year October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 (Fiscal Year 2027). Proper funding of NANP administration ensures that consumers will continue to have access to the numbering resources essential to the provision of new services and technologies.
A. Calculatingthe NANP Administration Fund Size Estimate and Contribution Factor
Pursuant to its contract with the Commission and section 52.16(a) of the Commission's rules, the NANP Billing and Collection Agent, Welch LLP (the B&C Agent), is responsible for calculating, assessing, billing, and collecting payments for numbering administration functions, and for distributing funds to the entities that support these functions (for example, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA))./1 Consistent with this function, the B&C Agent annually develops the projected numbering administration costs and fund size estimate for the upcoming fiscal year.
The B&C Agent allocates a portion of the funding requirement to all NANP member countries/2 for overall administration of the NANP, and also accounts for additional numbering administration services provided by the NANPA to certain member countries, such as the United States,/3 and recovers the costs for such additional services from those countries.
For the funding required from the United States, section 52.17 of the Commission's rules requires that all telecommunications carriers in the United States contribute on a competitively neutral basis to pay such costs,/4 and the B&C Agent collects such payments directly from U.S. carriers./5 Each year, the B&C Agent develops a contribution factor for U.S. telecommunications carriers designed to collect the projected United States contribution for the upcoming fiscal year. The Commission's rules provide that contributions shall be the product of the carriers' end-user telecommunications revenues for the prior calendar year and the contribution factor, and such contributions shall be no less than $25./6
B. Billing and Collection Agent Projection of the Fund Size Estimate and Contribution Factor
The B&C Agent has provided to the Commission a proposed a fund size estimate and contribution factor for recovering the cost of NANP Administration for Fiscal Year 2027, in accordance with section 52.16(a) of the Commission's rules. The proposed budget and factor are shown in the Appendix to this Public Notice./7 The proposed budget includes a funding requirement of $9,378,414 for Fiscal Year 2027, and a contribution factor of 0.0001134 for collection from U.S. carriers./8 As detailed in the proposed budget, the proposed contribution factor is slightly higher than the contribution factor for the prior fiscal year (0.0001091) due to a lower projected revenue contribution base and higher cost, but offset somewhat by a surplus carried over from the prior year./9 This year's contingency allowance is $1,250,000, the same amount as last year./10 The funding requirement contemplates a contribution from U.S. carriers totaling $7,642,653, a contribution from Canada of $161,850, contributions from the other member countries totaling $31,541, and application of a $1,542,370 accumulated surplus anticipated based on last year's surplus./11 Additional detail about the B&C Agent's considerations in establishing the fund size estimate, contribution factor, and contingency allowance may be found in the B&C Agent's publicly-available monthly fund reports./12
C. Effective Date of the Fund Size Estimate and Contribution Factor
Consistent with the Commission's annual review process, if the Commission takes no action regarding the proposed fund size estimate and contribution factor by August 28, 2026, the fund size estimate and the contribution factor are considered approved by the Commission and become effective for Fiscal Year 2027./13
* * *
Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 52.16(a).
2/ The NANP member countries are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States (including American Samoa, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). 47 CFR Sec. 52.5(d).
3/ For the United States, such additional services include administration of central office codes, thousands-block number pooling, and routing numbers (pseudo-Automatic Numbering Identification numbers). See 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 52.15, 52.20.
4/ 47 CFR Sec. 52.17. For purposes of this rule, the term "telecommunications carrier" or "carrier" includes interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers as that term is defined in section 52.5 of the Commission's rules. 47 CFR Sec. 52.5(b), (i).
5/ 47 CFR Sec.Sec. 52.16(a), 52.17.
6/ 47 CFR Sec. 52.17(a).
7/ Appendix.
8/ Id., Exhibit 1.
9/ Id.
10/ Compare id. with Letter from Mark Jackson, Partner, Welch LLP, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, CC Docket No. 92-237 (filed June 26, 2025).
11/ Appendix at 2.
12/ See North American Numbering Plan Fund, Monthly Fund Reports, https://nanpfund.com/monthly-fund-reports/ (last visited June 24, 2026).
13/ See, e.g., Wireline Competition Bureau Announces the Proposed North American Numbering Plan Administration Fund Size Estimate and Contribution Factor for October 2025 Through September 2026, CC Docket No. 92-237, Public Notice, 40 FCC Rcd 5099, 5100 (WCB 2025); Wireline Competition Bureau Announces the Proposed North American Numbering Plan Administration Fund Size Estimate and Contribution Factor for October 2024 Through September 2025, CC Docket No. 92-237, Public Notice, 39 FCC Rcd 9675, 9676 (WCB 2024).
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-731A1.pdf
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice: Commission Narrows Scope of Disaster Reporting for Typhoon Bavi
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-730):
* * *
On July 6, 2026, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission), in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), activated the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative (MDRI) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Territory of Guam (Guam) in response to Super Typhoon
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-730):
* * *
On July 6, 2026, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission), in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), activated the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative (MDRI) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Territory of Guam (Guam) in response to Super TyphoonBavi./1
DEACTIVATION OF DIRS AND THE MDRI IN GUAM
By this Public Notice, at the request of FEMA and Guam, PSHSB deactivates DIRS and the MDRI for Guam in its entirety.
Cable communications providers, wireless service providers, wireline communications providers, and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers that provide service in the abovereferenced areas are no longer required to report their infrastructure status daily in DIRS for this event./2
As of the release of this Public Notice, cable communications providers, wireless service providers, wireline communications providers, and interconnected VoIP providers that provide service in the above-referenced areas must resume making submissions in the NORS concerning any incidents that are reportable under those rules./3
DIRS AND THE MDRI REMAIN ACTIVATED IN THE FOLLOWING GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN THE CNMI:
CNMI: Rota, Saipan, and Tinian
Please continue to provide information to the Commission for the impacted geographic areas that are already located in the disaster area.
The Commission continues to monitor this event and may amend DIRS or the MDRI activation area in the coming days.
For further information on this DIRS activation, please contact:
FCC 24/7 Operations Center, (202) 418-1122, FCCOPS@fcc.gov
For further information concerning this MDRI activation, please contact:
FCC 24/7 Operations Center, (202) 418-1122, FCCOPS@fcc.gov
For more information on the Commission's response to Super Typhoon Bavi, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/Bavi.
* * *
Footnotes:
1/ The Federal Communications Commission Activates the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) and the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative (MDRI) in Response to Super Typhoon Bavi, Public Notice, DA 26-667 (PSHSB Jul. 6, 2026).
2/ See 47 CFR Sec. 4.18(a)(1).
3/ See 47 CFR Sec. 4.18(b).
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-730A1.pdf
Chairman Carr Proposes to Expand Direct-To-Device Satellite Broadband Connectivity to Unlicensed Wireless Devices
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 15, 2026:
* * *
Chairman Carr Proposes to Expand Direct-to-Device Satellite Broadband Connectivity to Unlicensed Wireless Devices
Proceeding Also Proposes Allowing Unlicensed Wireless Devices to Operate on Spacecrafts
-
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr today proposed a new proceeding to explore new avenues to allow innovative unlicensed wireless devices to communicate directly with satellites. With the transformative wave of investment and innovation in recent years around direct-to-device ("D2D")
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 15, 2026:
* * *
Chairman Carr Proposes to Expand Direct-to-Device Satellite Broadband Connectivity to Unlicensed Wireless Devices
Proceeding Also Proposes Allowing Unlicensed Wireless Devices to Operate on Spacecrafts
-
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr today proposed a new proceeding to explore new avenues to allow innovative unlicensed wireless devices to communicate directly with satellites. With the transformative wave of investment and innovation in recent years around direct-to-device ("D2D")services, this proceeding will look at the more than 225 megahertz of unlicensed spectrum to potentially support the capacity requirements and complement other bands for D2D services. The proposal would also clarify that using equipment authorized under the FCC's part 15 rules for unlicensed wireless devices is permitted within FCC-authorized spacecraft.
Since the Commission adopted its pioneering framework to enable Supplemental Coverage from Space, consumers have benefitted from the ubiquitous - and often lifesaving - connectivity that D2D provides in areas with inadequate cellular coverage. The proposed Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would, if adopted by the Commission at its next August Open Meeting, examine potential reforms to enable devices operating in some of the part 15 bands to communicate with FCC-authorized satellites, whether on an uplink or downlink basis.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"President Trump has pushed to restore America's leadership in next-gen tech. That is exactly what the FCC has been doing--ensuring that our nation's consumers are the first in the world to benefit from this emerging technology. Direct-to-device means fast and ubiquitous connectivity provided directly from next-gen satellite constellations to your smartphone or device. Coupling that resource with the innovation hotbed that is our unlicensed wireless device ecosystem could be a game changer. This new effort brings together two of the most cutting-edge areas of wireless technology in ways that can help bring connectivity to 'dead zones' and open doors to tomorrow's tech ideas."
Additional Background Information:
Devices operating under the FCC's part 15 rules for unlicensed wireless devices are widely used by businesses and consumers and include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transmitters for wireless local area connectivity, medical imaging devices, wireless microphones, automobile and garage door opener remote controls, and IoT sensors. By eliminating the burden and cost to obtain a Commission spectrum license, the FCC's part 15 rules have spurred innovation in new devices and applications without creating significant risk of harmful interference to licensed and unlicensed services. Unlocking unlicensed bands for D2D promises to open up new services that seamlessly integrate devices across terrestrial and satellite platforms and provide consumers with another option for connectivity.
More than $40 billion has coursed through the American space economy for D2D since the Commission adopted its Supplemental Coverage from Space framework. In 2025, SpaceX acquired 65 megahertz of D2D spectrum from EchoStar for $19.6 billion. AST announced a $550 million agreement to use L-band spectrum currently leased to Ligado. And most recently, Amazon and RocketLab struck separate deals collectively totaling nearly $20 billion to acquire Globalstar and Iridium respectively, including their D2D spectrum portfolios. To enable this healthy market discovery, the FCC's Space Bureau recently issued long-awaited legal clarity to reaffirm American innovators' exclusively held D2D spectrum rights
Permitting devices operating in the bands available for part 15 unlicensed devices to communicate with satellites could provide an opportunity for additional consumers to access direct-to-device services. It would foster innovation by allowing industry stakeholders to develop new services that seamlessly integrate unlicensed devices across terrestrial and satellite platforms and provide consumers with another option for direct-to-device satellite communication services.
If adopted by a vote of the full Commission, this NPRM not only supports unlicensed wireless devices connecting to space-based services, but would propose allowing such unlicensed wireless devices to be used in space on-board and between spacecraft. In keeping with the FCC's efforts to support the space economy, it will explore other scenarios where part 15 devices might effectively and safely operate in space, building a record to further unlock opportunities for innovation.
The public draft of this proposal will be available on FCC.gov tomorrow on the Open Meeting webpage: https://www.fcc.gov/August2026.
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423107A1.pdf
NRC to Update Public on Crane Clean Energy Center Restart
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on July 14, 2026:
* * *
NRC to Update Public on Crane Clean Energy Center Restart
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. -- The NRC will hold a hybrid public meeting on the possible restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center (formerly Three Mile Island Unit 1).
What: NRC and FEMA presentations on environmental, emergency preparedness, and
inspection topics.
Where: Kulkarni Theatre, Student Enrichment Center, Penn State Harrisburg,
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA
When: July 28, 6-8:30 p.m.
How: Attend in person
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release on July 14, 2026:
* * *
NRC to Update Public on Crane Clean Energy Center Restart
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. -- The NRC will hold a hybrid public meeting on the possible restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center (formerly Three Mile Island Unit 1).
What: NRC and FEMA presentations on environmental, emergency preparedness, and
inspection topics.
Where: Kulkarni Theatre, Student Enrichment Center, Penn State Harrisburg,
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA
When: July 28, 6-8:30 p.m.
How: Attend in personor via Microsoft Teams (https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/a462aa20-7b2a-4738-93ab-77d5cd5655a3@e8d01475-c3b5-436a-a065-5def4c64f52e).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-019-i-a.pdf
FCC's Build America Agenda Makes Great Progress in First Year
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 14, 2026:
* * *
FCC's Build America Agenda Makes Great Progress in First Year
Today, Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted some key wins under the FCC's "Build America Agenda" since it was first launched last July in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As outlined last July, the agency's Build America Agenda is centered on actions that unleash fast and affordable services for American families and businesses.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"A year ago, I said it's time to build in America.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 15 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on July 14, 2026:
* * *
FCC's Build America Agenda Makes Great Progress in First Year
Today, Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted some key wins under the FCC's "Build America Agenda" since it was first launched last July in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As outlined last July, the agency's Build America Agenda is centered on actions that unleash fast and affordable services for American families and businesses.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement:
"A year ago, I said it's time to build in America.The FCC's Build America Agenda promised to unleash new infrastructure builds, strengthen competition, and support new and affordable high-speed services. One year later, speeds are up, prices are down, and competition is intensifying. America is leading the world again in next-gen connectivity. But more work lies ahead. At the FCC, we will continue to move quickly on multiple fronts to ensure great results for America's consumers and businesses."
UNLEASHING HIGH-SPEED INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDS
* Adopted rules t- streamline the process for getting communities off old and slow copper lines and ont- new, high-speed networks. This action reduces regulatory burdens and effectively frees up tens of billions of dollars annually for the roll out of upgraded, high-speed networks t- more Americans on a faster timeline.
* Proposed comprehensive reforms t- accelerate the transition t- an all-IP environment, including phasing out intercarrier compensation regulations that may encourage providers t- continue using legacy technology, sunsetting interconnection obligations for legacy networks and exploring frameworks for IP interconnection, and reforming the high-cost USF support mechanisms for an all-IP future.
* Updated pole attachment rules t- make broadband deployment faster and more efficient. The new rules promote collaboration between broadband providers and utility pole owners, reduce delays, and help accelerate high-speed internet access nationwide.
* Created and used a first-of-its-kind accelerated docket t- expedite the review process for pole attachment complaints and ensure resolution within 60 days.
* Clarified rules t- ensure so-called reverse-preemption states that regulate pole attachments in their own jurisdictions d- not slow broadband deployments with red tape.
* Proposed new rules t- ensure consistent, reasonable state and local regulations that are consistent with Section 253 of the Communications Act for deploying modern, high-speed wireline infrastructure.
* Proposed a systematic overhaul of the FCC's outdated NEPA environmental and NHPA historic permitting rules that slow down wireless and space infrastructure builds.
* Approved at least $50 billion in cable, fiber, and wireline deals that promise more investment, infrastructure deployment, and connectivity throughout the United States, including:
- Charter's $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox, which paves the way for billions of dollars of investment in network upgrades across the country, including through Charter's Rural Construction Initiative, bringing better service and job opportunities t- rural America.
- Metronet's $4.9 billion sale of network assets t- T-Mobile subsidiaries, which will unleash billions of dollars in new infrastructure builds and deliver significant wins for America's tower and telecom crews.
- Verizon's $20 billion acquisition of Frontier, allowing Verizon t- upgrade and expand Frontier's existing network in 25 states, bringing more fiber t- more communities and enabling the retirement of old copper networks--including rural America.
RESTORING AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP IN WIRELESS
* Successfully executing the FCC's two-prong strategy of spectrum auctions and secondary market transactions, s- that spectrum flows t- higher and better uses. Together, these efforts are on track t- revitalize approximately 300 megahertz of underused low- and mid-band spectrum by the end of 2027.
* Delivering on the FCC's statutory mandate t- meet President Trump's spectrum pipeline plan and auction 800 megahertz for commercial use by 2034:
- Successfully completed the $3.5 billion auction of 200 licenses in the AWS-3 band. This auction, the FCC's first since 2022, not only lit up mid-band spectrum that sat idle for more than a decade but als- generated enough revenues t- make the U.S. Treasury whole.
- Announced final rules t- auction 160 megahertz of the Upper C-band by July 2027, exceeding the 100-megahertz minimum set by Congress. The auction will create a "Super Band" of 440 megahertz of prime, mid-band spectrum--the largest contiguous swath in the industrialized world. By moving on time, on budget, and with n- surprises, the FCC is poised t- bring 5G and 6G services t- the Upper C-band for most Americans by 2030--far sooner than many expected.
- Actively planning several more auctions by the close of 2028, including spectrum bands under current study by NTIA.
* Approved secondary-market transactions--backed by demanding buildout requirements--that will light up hundreds of megahertz of underutilized spectrum t- accelerate the deployment of 5G and fixed wireless for in-home broadband services and advance America's leadership in D2D:
- AT&T's $40 billion acquisition of EchoStar spectrum, including 30 megahertz of 3.45 GHz mid-band spectrum and 20 megahertz of 600 MHz low-band spectrum. AT&T has already deployed this spectrum across 23,000 sites and boosted 5G download speeds by up t- 80%.
- SpaceX's $19.6 billion acquisition of EchoStar spectrum, including 15 megahertz of unpaired AWS-3 spectrum, 40 megahertz of AWS-4 spectrum, and 10 megahertz of H-Block spectrum. SpaceX gains access--for the first time ever--t- exclusive-use spectrum for broadband services.
- Grain and T-Mobile's $2.9 billion cash transaction and spectrum swap, including T-Mobile's purchase of 600 MHz licenses and Grain's purchase of 14 megahertz in the 800 MHz band. Grain is subject t- strict performance requirements and incentives t- light the band up for D2D quickly.
T-Mobile's $4.3 billion acquisition of US Cellular spectrum and assets, including 600 MHz, 700 MHz, PCS, AWS, 2.5 GHz, and millimeter-wave spectrum licenses spanning 27 states and covering 15% of the U.S. population.
- AT&T's $1 billion acquisition of US Cellular spectrum and assets, including the 700 MHz and 3.45 GHz licenses spanning 29 states and covering at least 12% of the U.S. population.
- Verizon's $1 billion acquisition of US Cellular spectrum and assets, including Cellular, PCS, and AWS licenses spanning 19 states and covering at least 8% of the U.S. population.
* Adopted reforms t- make more intensive use of spectrum beyond auctions and secondary-market transactions.
- Adopted rules t- expand access t- spectrum for utilities, critical infrastructure, and enterprise businesses deploying private 900 MHz broadband networks.
- Adopted rules t- enhance unlicensed spectrum use by creating a new category of unlicensed devices--geofenced variable power (GVP) devices in the 6 GHz band--that can operate in more places and at higher power than previously before.
- Adopted sharing rules for 600 megahertz in the 37 GHz band t- support fixed wireless and IoT.
BOOSTING AMERICA'S SPACE ECONOMY
* Announced final rules t- modernize the Space Bureau's licensing processes, which will deliver better and faster outcomes for American innovation. At the July 2026 meeting, the FCC will vote on replacing the bespoke, legacy regime with a "assembly line" that gives America's space innovators the predictability and simplicity they deserve.
* Granted industry-shaping authorizations in record time. The Space Bureau's backlog has plummeted t- historic lows--processing times went down as pending applications fell by 43% in 2025 and an additional 15% in the first five months of 2026. Some of these authorizations included:
- AST SpaceMobile's 248-satellite authorization t- provide D2D in the 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands, in collaboration with AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet.
- Amazon Leo's Gen2 authorization t- deploy 4,500 satellites, more than doubling the size of its constellation.
- Logos's Gen1 authorization t- deploy 4,178 low Earth orbit broadband satellites in the Q/V-, E-, S-, and Ka-bands.
- Reflect Orbital's groundbreaking satellite technology that redirects sunlight t- provide ubiquitous solar energy across Earth.
- SES's $3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat, which creates a stronger competitor in the vibrant global satellite industry.
- SpaceX's Gen2 authorization t- deploy an additional 7,500 Starlink satellites, use an expanded range of frequency bands, and extend D2D coverage outside the U.S.
* Adopting "spectrum abundance" reforms that close the competitive and technological gap between satellite and wireline broadband--an outcome considered unimaginable only a few years ago.
- Eliminated 1990s-era EPFD technical rules that artificially throttled LE- broadband speeds for n- technical reason. The FCC replaced those obsolete rules with a modern, performance-based framework that promises more than $2 billion in economic benefits and capacity increases between 100% t- 700%, without increasing the likelihood of harmful interference.
- Teed up more than 20,000 megahertz for satellite spectrum abundance--more than the sum-total of spectrum available for satellite broadband today.
- Launched a proceeding t- ensure reliable spectrum access for "Weird Space Stuff"--cutting-edge ventures like orbital laboratories, in-space repairs, and inhabitable spacecraft.
- Revisiting overprotective restrictions in the so-called UMFUS spectrum bands that leave spectrum underutilized and prevent satellite infrastructure from being built.
- Kicked off a first-of-its-kind proceeding t- explore D2D operations using unlicensed spectrum.
* Provided long-awaited legal clarity t- protect American innovators' D2D spectrum rights abroad and t- support unprecedented deal flow in D2D since the start of 2025:
- SpaceX's $19.6 billion acquisition of 65 megahertz of D2D spectrum from EchoStar.
- Amazon's $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar and its 32 megahertz of D2D spectrum.
- RocketLab's $8 billion acquisition of Iridium and its 8 megahertz of D2D spectrum.
- AST's $550 million deal t- use 45 megahertz of D2D spectrum held by Ligado.
* Taking significant efforts t- defend American satellite innovators from discrimination by foreign governments in non-U.S. markets, advocating for the fair treatment of American companies, and reexamining the FCC's policy of satellite reciprocity following recent protectionist trends.
UNLEASHING AMERICAN DRONE DOMINANCE
* Launched a comprehensive proceeding t- explore all reforms t- implement President Trump's initiative t- Unleash American Drone Dominance. The FCC's sweeping inquiry covers modernizing UAS experimental licensing, creating UAS innovation zones, freeing up more spectrum for UAS operators, and securing UAS equipment from foreign adversaries.
* Secured the domestic drone and router supply chain by prohibiting most foreign-produced drones, drone critical components, and routers from receiving authorization for the U.S. market, while exempting devices from suppliers the Department of War deems trusted and wh- agree t- onshore manufacturing. This reform has catalyzed billions in manufacturing investment and the creation of thousands of manufacturing jobs, as dozens of companies have committed t- onshoring.
* Provided essential legal clarity on the meaning of Section 333 of the Communications Act in the Drone Dominance proceeding. The FCC's clarifications enable state, tribal, local, and private entities t- test new Counter-UAS technologies and confidently defend the homeland from security threats, consistent with the SAFER SKIES Act.
* Issued a blanket spectrum authorization t- deploy Counter-UAS and a waiver for authorized Counter-UAS equipment for entities subject t- the SAFER Skies Act. These important decisions in the Drone Dominance proceeding give state, local, and tribal entities the regulatory certainty they need t- undertake authorized Counter-UAS activities.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S WORKFORCE
* Secured a commitment from Charter t- onshore all of the job functions currently handled offshore by Cox, as a condition of the companies' combination. Minimum starting wage for these jobs will be $20/hour.
* Through merger approval process, secured valuable commitments by all three major U.S. wireless carriers, Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, t- America's tower and telecom crews, including faster payment cycles and fairer pricing metrics.
* Presented the first "Build America Hard Hat" t- honor the leader of a Western North Carolina telecom crew wh- used a kayak t- pull conduit through a river and restore service knocked offline by Hurricane Helene.
CUTTING RED TAPE
* Eliminated or proposed t- eliminate 2,192 rules or regulations, 175,100 words, and 407 pages from the Code of Federal Regulations under the FCC's Delete, Delete, Delete initiative.
* According t- OMB metrics, FCC stands at 17 deregulatory items offsetting 1 regulatory item with annual cost savings of $666 million since last October.
* Closed 2,144 inactive or dormant dockets, the largest ever in a single proceeding in the FCC's history.
PROMOTING NATIONAL SECURITY
* Adopted new rules in line with the America First Investment Policy Memorandum t- strengthen the security requirements for submarine cable licensees, while als- streamlining and accelerating the deployment of submarine cable infrastructure.
* Streamlined the approval process for devices that are tested in U.S. labs for sale and use in the United States, while excluding test labs owned or controlled by foreign adversaries and proposing t- restore international reciprocity by excluding labs in countries that refuse t- recognize U.S. labs.
* Further strengthened U.S. supply chains by prohibiting the authorization for import or sale devices containing certain components produced by entities on the FCC's Covered List.
* * *
Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423046A1.pdf
