Wireless industry groups and EchoStar suppliers are voicing some concerns and opposition to SpaceX's proposed purchase of EchoStar's AWS-4, AWS H-block and AWS-3 block licenses, according to FCC filings in docket 25-302 this week. EchoStar has struck spectrum rights deals with SpaceX and AT&T to end a pair of FCC investigations into its use of the 2 GHz band and the deadline extensions it received for its 5G network buildout (see 2505130003).
California Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Fox is recommending that the CPUC approve Verizon's purchase of Frontier Communications, subject to an array of conditions, including state diversity, equity and inclusion requirements. The FCC signed off on the deal in May after Verizon committed to dropping DEI practices (see 505160024). FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has said the agency won't approve mergers at regulated entities that have "invidious" DEI practices (see 2502240073).
Paramount Skydance's arguments that its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery faces a less fraught regulatory approval process is generally sound, but that doesn't mean a Paramount/WBD deal would be smooth sailing before DOJ and the FTC, competition lawyers and experts told us. In a letter to WBD shareholders last week, Paramount said its bid for WBD would have a shorter and more certain regulatory approval path than Netflix's rival offer (see 2512100001).
An array of educational policy experts and parents lambasted what they see as an overly heavy reliance on technology in classrooms on Wednesday during an NTIA listening session. Administrator Arielle Roth said earlier this month that a focus of the agency is looking at issues related to excessive screen use in educational settings (see 512020015). The FCC's E-rate program was also criticized by multiple speakers.
A Netflix/Warner Bros. Discovery deal "appears to be in for a long and bumpy road as it navigates the global regulatory review process," Paramount Skydance warned WBD shareholders in a letter Wednesday. Paramount launched a hostile takeover bid for WBD this week after Netflix announced it was buying parts of the company for $82.7 billion in cash and stock (see 2512080007). In the letter, Paramount argued it was offering "a much shorter and more certain path to completion," as well as an all-cash purchase offer that's potentially more lucrative if Netflix stock drops.
A big impediment to safe operations in orbit is the difficulty of getting anyone on the line about an impending near-miss, satellite operators said in an Aerospace Corp. webinar Wednesday. Communication, particularly with Chinese satellite operators, "is getting better," but needs further improvement, said Ryan Shepperd, Iridium's lead engineer for collision assessment and avoidance. The space sustainability event also included discussions about ways to better separate satellites from one another as orbits become increasingly congested.
The space industry has good communication channels with the U.S. government, but the efficacy of discussions among its agencies about space policy and regulation are less clear, space experts said Tuesday at a seminar in Washington organized by ForumGlobal. Tahara Dawkins, Astroscale's policy director, called for one set of rules across agencies, noting that it’s unclear if, for example, the FCC is talking with NOAA when they craft their regulations. Commercial Space Federation (CSF) Executive Director Alicia Brown added that there must be greater efforts to avoid regulatory conflicts and duplication in areas like payload reviews.
The FCC's supplemental coverage from space (SCS) rules framework, adopted in 2024 (see 2403140050), tackled critical issues but is ready for an update, SpaceX Vice President of Satellite Policy David Goldman said Monday at a seminar in Washington organized by ForumGlobal. Also discussed at the event was use of terrestrial versus satellite spectrum for direct-to-device (D2D) service.
Paramount Skydance announced a hostile takeover bid Monday to buy WBD, offering $30 each for all outstanding shares of the company. The move follows the announcement that Netflix struck an $82.7 billion deal last week to purchase WBD (see 2512050046). One analyst said he sees President Donald Trump's heavy involvement in the fight over WBD as an advantage for Paramount over Netflix.
California’s continuing interest in VoIP regulation is a concern, and the lack of FCC preemption of state VoIP oversight is proving to be a problem, speakers said Wednesday at a vCon conference about AI and telecom issues. Also at the event, Ecommerce Innovation Alliance (EIA) President David Carter said the e-commerce industry, faced with rocketing amounts of “shakedown litigation" about texts sent during quiet hours, is anxiously hoping that the FCC will act soon on the group's 9-month-old petition for a declaratory ruling (see 2503030036). An agency affirmation that prior consumer consent means those texts don’t violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) “should have been a no-brainer,” Carter said.