If the U.S. Supreme Court rejects President Donald Trump’s firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and defies conventional wisdom (see 2512080047), it would go a long way to counter the prevailing view that the court is doing Trump’s bidding regardless of the law, argued Peter Shane, chair in law emeritus at Ohio State University, in Friday's Washington Monthly. If SCOTUS upholds the firing, Trump could also fire members of the FCC with whom he disagrees, including Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr faces a tough decision in 2026 on whether to push forward with rules that would allow prison officials to jam cellphone signals, with no easy answer in sight, industry officials said. The proposal in a further NPRM faces a tidal wave of opposition from wireless companies and associations but has the backing of many correctional groups and officials in mainly Republican-dominated states (see 2512300043).
The wireless industry and local and state government groups filed comments last week in docket 25-276, disagreeing sharply on the FCC’s wireless infrastructure NPRM, which commissioners approved in September (see 2511250075). The agency has received hundreds of mostly short filings opposing the changes proposed in the notice (see 2512240027).
FCC approval of Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna would violate the law, lead to nationwide TV blackouts, increase ad and retrans prices, damage local journalism and cause a wave of anticompetitive media consolidation, said petitions to deny the deal filed in docket 25-331 by Wednesday’s deadline.
Spire Global is eyeing October to launch three Lemur-class satellites that would operate using the same frequencies and parameters as the company's existing constellation. In an FCC Space Bureau application posted Tuesday, Spire said the three satellites would have standard Spire remote sensing and geolocation payloads, as well as custom payloads for detecting and tracking moving targets on Earth.
New Environmental Health Trust President Joe Sandri said in a year-end message to members Wednesday that the group “remains deeply committed to reducing controllable, environmental health hazards.” RF safety advocates have inundated the FCC in recent days with filings about perceived dangers of RF exposure (see 2512240027).
The Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) joined the wireless industry in raising concerns about an FCC proposal to allow prison officials to jam cellphone signals to curb the use of contraband phones (see 2512300043). AFTRCC members rely on shared 1435-1525 and 2360-2395 MHz band spectrum to relay aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) data from test aircraft to ground stations “in real-time,” which could face disruptions from jamming, the council said in a filing this week in docket 13-111. “Without interference-free access to adequate spectrum for AMT, flight tests involving high risk to pilots, crews, and persons on the ground might not be possible, and the adverse consequences for both military aviation and commercial passenger and transport aviation, not to mention private aviation and the use of uncrewed aircraft systems, would be substantial.”
The FCC Wireline Bureau released Wednesday a final list of locations that are eligible for enhanced alternative Connect America cost model (A-CAM) support, as well as a final list of support amounts for carriers that reflects the updated locations. The locations list "incorporates all successful broadband speed and availability challenges" filed by Aug. 1, 2024, “along with all adjudicated challenges to the broadband fabric, including challenges to unit count totals,” the bureau said.
Submarine cable interests are continuing their campaign against the FCC's proposal to license owners and operators of submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE). Replies posted this week in docket 24-523 echoed similar SLTE licensing objections that had been voiced in initial comments (see 2512010043).
The FCC should approve the Nexstar/Tegna deal in part because Nexstar provides a platform for conservative voices and offers conservative perspectives on issues, said the Center for American Rights in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 25-331. “Nexstar’s proven commitment to viewpoint diverse programming and fact-based news validates its record as a custodian of the public interest,” CAR said.