Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
Featured Stories
Pizza Hut Franchisee Ayvaz to Pay $35,000 in EEOC Sex-Based Harassment and Retaliation Suit
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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Pizza Hut Franchisee Ayvaz to Pay $35,000 in EEOC Sex-Based Harassment and Retaliation Suit
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Settles federal suit alleging manager harassed and fired subordinate after she ended their personal relationship
HOUSTON - Ayvaz Pizza, LLC, doing business as Pizza Hut, which operates more than 350 Pizza Hut restaurants around the country, including multiple locations in the Houston area, will pay $35,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release:
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Pizza Hut Franchisee Ayvaz to Pay $35,000 in EEOC Sex-Based Harassment and Retaliation Suit
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Settles federal suit alleging manager harassed and fired subordinate after she ended their personal relationship
HOUSTON - Ayvaz Pizza, LLC, doing business as Pizza Hut, which operates more than 350 Pizza Hut restaurants around the country, including multiple locations in the Houston area, will pay $35,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed bythe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, a former female assistant manager of a Pizza Hut restaurant in Porter, Texas was subjected to a hostile work environment by her supervisor after she broke off their romantic relationship. On Oct. 14, 2022, she complained of the harassment to the restaurant's operations manager and human resources department. Two weeks after her complaint, on Nov. 1, 2022, and despite having no negative disciplinary marks on her record, she was fired and given seven write-ups on the day of her termination.
"Employers must ensure that their human resources and management staff are effectively trained against sex discrimination and retaliation," said Claudia Molina-Antanaitis, EEOC senior trial attorney. "The training of such employees must include preventing and responding to discrimination and not punishing employees who oppose it."
This alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits retaliation and discrimination on the basis of sex. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Ayvaz Pizza, LLC, d/b/a/ Pizza Hut, Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-04876) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas after first attempting to reach prelitigation settlement through its conciliation process.
In addition to providing $35,000 in damages to the aggrieved worker, the two-year consent decree signed March 19 requires Ayvaz Pizza to provide the worker a letter of reference; update and disseminate its anti-discrimination policies; provide comprehensive anti-discrimination training to its staff; and report sex-based discrimination and harassment complaints to the EEOC.
For more information on harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment. For information on retaliation, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation
The EEOC's Houston District Office has jurisdiction over Louisiana and the following counties in Texas: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton.
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/pizza-hut-franchisee-ayvaz-pay-35000-eeoc-sex-based-harassment-and-retaliation-suit
FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on March 26, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
Re: Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules, Report and Order, Direct Final Rule, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, GN Docket No. 19-309 (March 26, 2026)
As I have long said, the FCC must be a good steward of federal dollars and a vigilant administrator of its USF programs. In the past, our suspension and debarment rules have only applied to the FCC's USF programs and are limited to specific misconduct.
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on March 26, 2026, by Chairman Brendan Carr:
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FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
Re: Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules, Report and Order, Direct Final Rule, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, GN Docket No. 19-309 (March 26, 2026)
As I have long said, the FCC must be a good steward of federal dollars and a vigilant administrator of its USF programs. In the past, our suspension and debarment rules have only applied to the FCC's USF programs and are limited to specific misconduct.Today's item fixes this gap by building on our other work to strengthen the integrity of our USF programs by proposing to apply suspension and debarment safeguards more broadly, including beyond USF to the FCC's other programs including its Rip and Replace program, and to a wider range of misconduct.
This item also promotes greater accountability and policing among program recipients, including by requiring program participants, their board members, and other company executives to disclose prior misconduct and ensure that the parties with whom they do business under our programs are not currently suspended or debarred. In doing so, we are making clear that bad actors who threaten our networks or misuse federal funds will not be allowed to participate in those programs in the future.
I would like to thank Tom Driscoll, Irene Ly, Wisam Naoum, Brayden Parker, Michael Scurato, Paula Silberthau, Anjali Singh, Adam Candeub, and Chin Yoo for their hard work on this item. I look forward to moving this effort forward.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-420137A2.pdf
FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2026:
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FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
New Suspension and Debarment Tools Bolster Protections for Programs Including Universal Service Fund and Telecommunications Relay Services
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted an item bolstering its suspension and debarment program to align it with other agencies, and seeking comment on expanding the program to allow for the broader removal of participants that commit waste, fraud, and abuse.
Today's action
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2026:
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FCC Strengthens Protections for Public Funds
New Suspension and Debarment Tools Bolster Protections for Programs Including Universal Service Fund and Telecommunications Relay Services
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission adopted an item bolstering its suspension and debarment program to align it with other agencies, and seeking comment on expanding the program to allow for the broader removal of participants that commit waste, fraud, and abuse.
Today's actionupdates FCC processes to align them with government-wide best practices and enables the agency to take quicker and more comprehensive action against wrongdoers so as to better protect these programs from abuse and ensure limited resources are used responsibly to connect all Americans. The Report and Order adopts rules allowing the Commission to promptly and efficiently exclude or otherwise limit bad actors' participation in Congressionally-mandated funding programs, such as the Universal Service Fund, Telecommunications Relay Services program, and the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program.
Specifically, the new rules align FCC program management with the Office of Management and Budget's Guidelines for Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension, the government-wide standards governing debarment proceedings. The rules are also tailored to accommodate the unique nature and design of the Commission's programs. The FCC will now be able to consider a wider range of misconduct by program participants that warrants removal, act more quickly in appropriate cases to cut off funds to bad actors, and promote increased and earlier transparency by program participants. Additionally, the new rules create an additional FCC-specific remedy called a Limited Denial of Participation that empowers the agency to address less egregious misconduct that still warrants restricting participation in Commission programs outside of the suspension and debarment process.
As part of today's vote, the Commission also adopted a Direct Final Rule to adopt the most up-to-date version of the OMB Guidelines, and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes extending the suspension and debarment rules to additional agency programs and proposes adoption of a mandatory reporting requirement to assist the agency in better protecting federal funds.
Action by the Commission March 26, 2026 by Report and Order, Direct Final Rule, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-18). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving. Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-420137A1.pdf
FCC Plan Seeks Reliable Spectrum Access for 'Weird Space Stuff' Like Orbital Laboratories, In-Space Repairs, and Inhabitable Spacecraft
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2026:
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FCC Plan Seeks Reliable Spectrum Access for 'Weird Space Stuff' Like Orbital Laboratories, In-Space Repairs, and Inhabitable Spacecraft
Predictable and Abundant Spectrum Resources Are Necessary for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command for On-the-Horizon Space Endeavors
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to start a proceeding to bring greater spectrum abundance to cutting-edge, emergent ventures in space, namely supporting telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C)
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2026:
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FCC Plan Seeks Reliable Spectrum Access for 'Weird Space Stuff' Like Orbital Laboratories, In-Space Repairs, and Inhabitable Spacecraft
Predictable and Abundant Spectrum Resources Are Necessary for Telemetry, Tracking, and Command for On-the-Horizon Space Endeavors
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Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted to start a proceeding to bring greater spectrum abundance to cutting-edge, emergent ventures in space, namely supporting telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C)for on-the-horizon endeavors like orbital laboratories, satellite repairs, and private inhabitable spacecraft. The new "Weird Space Stuff" proceeding looks to address shortages of available, reliable spectrum for such operations. The Commission will seek comment on ways to expand access, modernize the FCC's rules, and give America's space activities the predictable spectrum environment they need to thrive.
America's leadership in space relies on predictable spectrum resources, including for spacecraft that do not provide radiocommunications services to the public. American innovators, however, currently face an acute shortage of usable and readily accessible spectrum for TT&C, and that spectrum crunch threatens to delay--or even prevent--the growth of domestic space technologies and jeopardize U.S. leadership in the booming global space economy.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) looks to find ways to use market-based principles to see spectrum resources put to more intensive use in the service of the space economy. The NPRM seeks to clarify and expand the FCC's traditional regulatory classifications so that emergent operations have more predictable spectrum access. The proceeding will also explore new spectrum bands that could support new use cases on a dedicated basis to provide a clear, reliable, and expeditious path to support the groundbreaking technologies and services that companies are developing in space.
The Commission is aggressively pursuing a policy of spectrum abundance in outer space. Earlier this year, it launched a proceeding to release up to 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for traditional connectivity services, including high-speed broadband from constellations in low-Earth orbit. The Commission has also begun a comprehensive review of its licensing and regulatory framework for space communications.
Action by the Commission March 26, 2026 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-13). Chairman Carr, Commissioners Gomez and Trusty approving. Chairman Carr and Commissioner Trusty issuing separate statements.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-420134A1.pdf
FCC Enforcement Bureau Cites Morris Broadcasting Co. of New Jersey for Safety, Operational Failures
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau released a notice of violation against Morris Broadcasting Co. of New Jersey Inc. following inspections of antenna structures in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Morris, the owner of four antenna structures and licensee of AM Station WIMG, faces scrutiny for multiple safety and operational infractions.
During inspections in May and August 2025, agents found that the company failed to maintain required lighting on its towers. Specifically, while top-level red beacons were active, the structures lacked necessary side
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission Enforcement Bureau released a notice of violation against Morris Broadcasting Co. of New Jersey Inc. following inspections of antenna structures in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. Morris, the owner of four antenna structures and licensee of AM Station WIMG, faces scrutiny for multiple safety and operational infractions.
During inspections in May and August 2025, agents found that the company failed to maintain required lighting on its towers. Specifically, while top-level red beacons were active, the structures lacked necessary sidemarkers at the one-third and two-thirds levels. Some towers had extinguished obstruction lights entirely. Furthermore, Morris failed to renew critical safety bulletins known as Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) after they expired in July 2025, leaving pilots without information about the darkened towers until an FCC agent intervened.
The investigation also revealed physical and technical failures at the site. Dense vegetation and brush blocked access to the tower bases, violating rules requiring clear entry for maintenance. Technically, the station operated at only 900 Watts--roughly 28% of its authorized 3200-Watt daytime power--without seeking permission for reduced operation.
Most notably, the station's Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment failed to power on during the inspection. The Commission emphasizes that the EAS is a critical part of the national safety infrastructure. Broadcasters must ensure this equipment remains functional to provide warnings during emergencies.
Morris must submit a response within 20 days. This statement must explain the facts surrounding these lapses and provide a timeline for corrective actions. The company must support its reply with an affidavit verifying the accuracy of its claims. While this notice identifies violations, the Enforcement Bureau retains the authority to pursue further actions, such as fines, based on the company's response and future compliance.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-289A1.pdf
CPSC Issues Recall Alert Involving Vive Health Bed Rails
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on March 26, 2026:
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Name of Product: Vive Health Bed Rails
Hazard: When the recalled bed rails are attached to a bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the bed rail and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation.
Remedy: Refund
Recall Date: March 26, 2026
Units: About 122,000
Consumer Contact: Vive Health toll-free at 800-487-3808 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at recalls@vivehealth.com,
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on March 26, 2026:
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Name of Product: Vive Health Bed Rails
Hazard: When the recalled bed rails are attached to a bed, users can become entrapped within the bed rail or between the bed rail and the side of the mattress. This poses a serious entrapment hazard and risk of death by asphyxiation.
Remedy: Refund
Recall Date: March 26, 2026
Units: About 122,000
Consumer Contact: Vive Health toll-free at 800-487-3808 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at recalls@vivehealth.com,online at vivehealth.com/pages/recalls, or vivehealth.com and click "Recall" at the top of the page for more information.
Recall Details
Description: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Vive Health LLC, of Naples, Florida, are announcing the recall of three models of Vive Health adult bed rails. The recalled bed rails pose a risk of entrapment and asphyxia because users can become entrapped within the rail or between the rail and mattress.
Vive Health has received two reports of entrapment deaths associated with one model of the recalled bed rails. The deaths occurred in September 2024 and involved a 97-year-old man at an assisted living facility in Texas and a 93-year-old man at his home in Florida.
Consumers should stop using the recalled bed rails immediately and contact Vive Health for a full refund.
This recall involves the Vive Health Compact Bed Rail (model LVA2009SLV) and Bed Rail Collection V (model LVA2097SLV), as well as units of the Vive Health Bed Rail model LVA1024 purchased on or before August 21, 2023. Vive Health previously recalled units of model LVA1024 purchased after August 21, 2023, on February 19, 2026. The recalled bed rails are made of silver or white metal tubing with a black foam rubber grip handle. The recalled bed rails may not contain model numbers or brand-specific labels.
Vive Health sold about 122,000 units of the recalled bed rails at medical supply stores nationwide and online at www.vivehealth.com, Amazon and online medical supply stores. The bed rails were sold from September 2019 through December 2025 for between $45 and $90. They were manufactured in China.
Consumers should stop using the recalled bed rails immediately and contact Vive Health for a full refund.
CPSC urges consumers to report any related incidents to the agency at www.SaferProducts.gov.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled Vive Health Bed Rails immediately and contact Vive Health for a full refund. Consumers should write "RECALLED" on the upper and lower portions of the bed rails with permanent marker and take a photo of the marked bed rail with the buyer's name on a piece of paper and email to recalls@vivehealth.com. Consumers should then dispose of the recalled product in accordance with the state and local waste disposal procedure.
Incidents/Injuries: Vive Health has received two reports of entrapment deaths associated with one model of the recalled bed rails. The deaths occurred in September 2024 and involved a 97-year-old man at an assisted living facility in Texas and a 93-year-old man at his home in Florida.
Sold At: Vive Health sold about 122,000 units of the recalled bed rails at medical supply stores nationwide and online at www.vivehealth.com, Amazon and online medical supply stores. The bed rails were sold from September 2019 through December 2025 for between $45 and $90.
Manufactured In: China
Recall number: 26-341
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Original text here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Vive-Health-Recalls-Adult-Portable-Bed-Rails-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Entrapment-and-Asphyxiation-Two-Deaths-Reported
CPSC Issues Recall Alert Involving Sunnyyes LED Mini Lights
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on March 26, 2026:
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Name of Product: Sunnyyes LED Mini Lights
Hazard: The recalled LED lights violate the mandatory standard for consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries because the lights contain lithium coin batteries that can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the screw used on the remote controls to secure the battery compartments that contain a lithium coin battery does not remain attached. Also, the packaging does not have the warnings
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WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on March 26, 2026:
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Name of Product: Sunnyyes LED Mini Lights
Hazard: The recalled LED lights violate the mandatory standard for consumer products containing button cell or coin batteries because the lights contain lithium coin batteries that can be accessed easily by children, posing an ingestion hazard. Additionally, the screw used on the remote controls to secure the battery compartments that contain a lithium coin battery does not remain attached. Also, the packaging does not have the warningsas required by Reese's Law. When button cell or coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns and death.
Remedy: Refund
Recall Date: March 26, 2026
Units: About 26,000
Consumer Contact: Sunnyyes by email at usa@sunnyyes.com.
Recall Details
Description: This recall involves Sunnyyes branded LED mini lights. The recalled color changing lights have 13 colors. Each of the 10 multicolored lights includes two CR2032 lithium coin batteries. The lights include two remote controls that contain one CR2025 coin lithium battery each. The LED lights measure 1.18 inches in diameter.
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled LED lights immediately and place them in an area where children cannot access them. Consumers will be asked to disassemble and submerge all components in water. To receive a full refund, consumers will be asked to email a photo of the submerged product to usa@sunnyyes.com.
Note: Button cell and coin batteries are hazardous. Batteries should be disposed of or recycled by following local hazardous waste procedures.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported
Sold Online At: Amazon.com from March 2024 through March 2026 for about $20.
Retailer: Huizhoushi Chuanglianxin Technology Co., Ltd, dba Sunnyyes, of China
Manufactured In: China
Recall number: 26-344
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Original text here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Sunnyyes-LED-Mini-Lights-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Battery-Ingestion-Violates-Mandatory-Standard-for-Consumer-Products-with-Coin-Batteries
