All articles tagged with #fcc
ABC is altering its political coverage to avoid FCC retaliation, with a federal judge weighing whether the agency's early license review is a constitutional violation.
Disney and ABC sued the FCC in August over an order forcing early renewal of eight local station licenses. In a Tuesday hearing, ABC argued this move constitutes unconstitutional censorship, while the FCC claimed it was a procedural step in a separate discrimination investigation. Judge Loren AliKhan expressed skepticism regarding the FCC’s justification, noting the timing and public threats from administration officials. The judge has not yet ruled but ordered additional filings by October 14.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan expressed skepticism during a Tuesday hearing regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s attempt to force an early review of ABC’s eight broadcast licenses. The judge appeared to side with ABC’s argument that the court has jurisdiction to intervene in the FCC’s unprecedented move to accelerate the renewal process years ahead of schedule. AliKhan challenged the FCC’s assertion that the review is merely a procedural step tied to a discovery dispute within a discrimination investigation concerning ABC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. This hearing represents the latest legal confrontation between the Trump administration and Disney-owned ABC, following the agency’s order to pull the licenses for early scrutiny. The judge’s comments suggest she is unconvinced by the FCC’s characterization of the action as a routine administrative matter, instead viewing it as a substantive legal issue that warrants judicial oversight.
The FCC granted Matic a ban waiver on October 2, 2026, but the company does not require it because its robots are assembled in the US and use pre-approved Intel Wi-Fi chips. The waiver applies only to future foreign-made imports, while existing approved devices remain legal to sell.
Cable industry groups have notified the FCC they will sue to block the agency's repeal of the 39% national TV ownership cap. The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, argues it has the authority to replace the cap with case-by-case reviews, while opponents claim the limit is statutory and can only be changed by Congress. The dispute centers on whether consolidation will raise retransmission fees and reduce local news diversity.
The Trump administration has aired at least 13 taxpayer-funded television ads promoting the president’s image and policies, drawing bipartisan criticism and legal challenges. While the White House defends the spots as patriotic public service announcements, Democrats argue they violate laws prohibiting federal funds for political propaganda. Recent records indicate the ads were financed by redirecting money from border security and officer memorials, while the FCC chair dismissed concerns as routine. Congressional leaders are now pursuing legislative and legal avenues to halt the spending ahead of the November midterms.
Senate Democrats are introducing legislation to penalize the White House for using taxpayer funds for political advertising. The bill, led by Patty Murray, would deduct $20 million from the Office of Management and Budget for each violation of laws banning government propaganda. This move follows a surge in pro-Trump television spots aired during the 2026 midterm election cycle, which critics argue are indistinguishable from campaign ads. While the White House defends the spots as patriotic public service announcements, legal experts and bipartisan lawmakers contend they violate the Hatch Act and appropriations laws. The controversy has prompted federal investigations and FCC scrutiny, though the agency’s chair has dismissed concerns as normal.
The FCC has approved a major expansion of radio spectrum for satellite internet, unlocking 1,000 megahertz for services like Starlink. The move includes a 25% increase in downlink capacity and a controversial exemption from federal environmental reviews, aiming to accelerate broadband deployment in rural areas and boost competition against traditional ISPs.
Samsung has confirmed that its first AI-powered smart glasses will launch in November 2026, following recent FCC approvals for two design variants. The devices, developed in partnership with Google and eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, a 12MP camera, and deep integration with Google's Gemini AI. Samsung aims to differentiate its product by making it significantly lighter than competitors, targeting a weight of approximately 46 grams compared to Meta's 51-gram models. While the exact release date and pricing remain undisclosed, the launch marks Samsung's entry into a rapidly growing market for display-less wearable AI, where privacy concerns regarding covert recording are increasingly prominent.
Robert De Niro returned to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on September 30, 2026, to reprise his role as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In a surprise sketch, De Niro confronted Kimmel with a baseball bat, citing 192 instances of Kimmel mocking President Trump. The bit highlighted ongoing tensions between late-night television and federal regulators, with De Niro demanding Kimmel balance insults with compliments.
The Trump administration is using taxpayer funds to purchase advertising space on CNN and MS NOW, networks it has simultaneously banned from the White House. These ads, which feature anti-'deep state' messaging, have drawn bipartisan criticism and legal challenges, with the FCC dismissing concerns as normal public service announcements.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr dismissed concerns about taxpayer-funded pro-Trump television ads, labeling them standard public service announcements. While the White House argues the ads are non-partisan, critics and bipartisan lawmakers contend they violate laws prohibiting government propaganda. The ads, funded by Department of Homeland Security contracts, aired on networks including CNN and MS NOW, even as the administration sought to ban those outlets from the White House.
Advocacy group Public Citizen has called on the FCC and FTC to block White House advertisements promoting President Donald Trump, arguing they violate federal laws against using public funds for partisan purposes. The White House defends the spots as patriotic public service announcements, while critics note they mirror 2024 campaign materials and were funded by Customs and Border Protection.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing intense opposition from local governments over a proposal to preempt state and local broadband permitting rules. While the agency seeks to impose 120-day deadlines and fee caps to accelerate infrastructure deployment, critics argue the move exceeds federal authority and ignores public safety concerns. Industry groups support the changes, but legal challenges and internal FCC dissent suggest the plan may stall or fail in court.
The Virginia Association of Counties asked the FCC to scrutinize Verizon’s plan to discontinue copper-based landlines in Virginia, urging a delay beyond Sept. 26 and closer coordination with Verizon to ensure residents in rural and suburban areas—where cellular, fiber, or satellite alternatives may be unreliable—don’t lose voice service or 911 access, and to protect businesses and essential devices that rely on copper lines.