All articles tagged with #fcc
The U.S. FCC published documents for an unreleased Bluetooth over‑ear headphone with model A3577. Details are largely confidential, and it's unclear whether the device is from Apple or Beats (not AirPods Max 2, which has a different model). A Beats Studio Pro revision is a possible scenario, with more information expected as filings are reviewed.
An FCC filing lists an unreleased Bluetooth over-ear headphone with model A3577 prepared for Apple. With most details sealed, observers speculate whether it’s Apple-branded or a Beats product, but there’s no official confirmation yet.
The FCC revised its guidance to push the deadline for firmware updates on foreign-made drones and routers from 2027 to January 1, 2029, citing espionage and data-exfiltration risks (including the Volt Typhoon threat). The extension, influenced by consumer groups, buys time for updates while signaling potential supply-chain shifts as manufacturers localize.
The FCC, led by Chair Brendan Carr, opened a review of Disney-owned ABC's local TV licenses over the network's news programming, including 'The View,' as part of a broader Trump-era push to pressure outlets over coverage; ABC says the move threatens protected speech and notes the show has an exempt status for equal-time considerations, while experts say license pulls are rare and the probe could drag on for years.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez lauds Disney for resisting what she calls the Trump-era weaponization of the FCC against ABC, citing enforcement actions over Jimmy Kimmel and The View as political pressure intended to punish speech. The piece outlines past investigations, license reviews, and DEI reviews, arguing they threaten First Amendment rights and press freedom. Gomez portrays Disney’s stance as courage over capitulation and notes public backlash helped reinstate Kimmel, asserting Disney will likely prevail and urging accountability for the FCC’s actions.
The FCC is weighing sweeping Know Your Customer rules that would require government ID, a physical address, full legal name, and an existing phone number to obtain or renew voice service, with fines of $2,500 per illegal call charged to providers. While officials say the goal is to stop scams, critics warn the regime could erode semi-anonymous communications (burner phones) and sweep in red flags like crypto payments or nonmatching addresses, potentially harming vulnerable users; the rules are not yet in force and the commission is seeking public comment on privacy concerns.
FCC released thousands of viewer complaints about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, with critics calling the Spanish-language lyrics and choreography inappropriate for children and faulting NBC and the NFL; the agency noted the lyrics had been edited for broadcast. The article also mentions pre-game activists distributing 15,000 anti-ICE towels and cites political backlash from Rep. Randy Fine and President Trump, alongside praise of the performance as a milestone for Latin music and immigrant voices.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show drew more than 2,000 FCC complaints—many alleging unpatriotic language or vulgarity—though most claims were misguided or rooted in racism; the FCC found no violations, and the moment sparked a broader debate about inclusivity, with Turning Point USA running a counter-show alongside it.
ABC rebuked the FCC’s bid to apply the equal-time rule to talk-show interviews, saying it would chill First Amendment protections and limit political coverage ahead of the 2026 elections; the 52‑page filing seeks clarity on exemptions for outlets like The View amid a broader clash between Disney and the commission over licenses.
ABC argues in a 52-page filing that the FCC’s renewed equal-time scrutiny of The View would chill First Amendment rights by allowing the government to pick which viewpoints appear, noting the ongoing discrepancy in treatment between talk shows and radio and the infeasibility of forcing time for every candidate; the filing comes as Carr’s investigation into a Democratic candidate appearance on The View and related FCC licensing actions intensify regulatory pressure on editorial discretion ahead of the 2026 midterms.
ABC has filed a petition with the FCC arguing that scrutinizing whether The View qualifies as a bona fide news program and the threat of applying the equal-time rule would chill First Amendment speech. The move comes amid ongoing disputes with Disney-ABC and follows an FCC action tied to a Feb. 2 appearance by a Texas candidate on The View, with supporters framing the challenge as a defense of free expression.
ABC, on behalf of Disney, told the FCC that its probe into The View’s compliance with the equal-time rule risks a chilling effect on First Amendment rights and targets a bona fide news program exempt from the rule; the FCC will consider whether The View qualifies for the exemption even as it reviews ABC’s licenses in a separate action.
A cohort of Senate Democrats led by Sen. Ed Markey demands FCC Chair Brendan Carr rescind his order to review Disney’s eight ABC TV licenses, framing the move as presidential retribution for editorial decisions and a potential trigger for aggressive FCC oversight if Democrats seize the Senate. Carr argues the licensing action follows a year-long probe into Disney’s DEI practices, while Republicans and Disney’s supporters call the action unprecedented and politically motivated. The Democrats request a detailed legal rationale and any White House contact about the early review, signaling intensified scrutiny of the FCC’s licensing powers.
The FCC advanced a proposal to bar testing of devices by Chinese labs for U.S. certifications, potentially forcing Apple and other manufacturers to use U.S.- or allied-lab testing. Because there’s no Mutual Recognition Agreement with China, devices certified by Chinese labs could remain on sale only for two years after the final rules take effect; after that, Apple could recertify older iPhones in U.S.-recognized labs, and future models would skip Chinese testing altogether. The proposal moves to public comment before a final order is issued, with the impact on prices and release dates still unclear.
Megyn Kelly dramatically reversed her stance on Jimmy Kimmel, calling Trump’s posts to cancel the host 'very inappropriate' while arguing that ABC/Disney should apply cancel-culture standards evenly—even to Republicans—after Trump intensified attacks on Kimmel.