The White House's recent American space superiority executive order (see 2508140006) sets goals such as a greater launch and reentry cadence, signaling "a shift from aspirational policy to execution -- tying capital formation, operational scale, and national security together," Sheppard Mullin space lawyer Drew Svor wrote Monday on social media. While the order doesn't explicitly name the FCC, "the push to unlock investment and accelerate launch activity inevitably lands on satellite and spectrum licensing, with greater emphasis on speed, coordination, and national-security-aware authorizations," he said. It "represents an important shift in how the United States approaches space policy, investment, and security. For operators and investors, orbital security is now inseparable from licensing velocity, regulatory strategy, and U.S. competitiveness in space."
After a determination by the Trump administration, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their component parts produced in foreign countries that pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons” have been added to the FCC’s covered list of companies that present security risks, the agency announced Monday. The FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (see 2512110051) required the administration to review whether to add Chinese drone maker DJI to the covered list. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said last week that a decision was likely imminent (see 2512180047).
New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the Utility Reform Network urged the FCC to delay comment deadlines 30 days for an NPRM proposing various changes to the agency's broadband label rules. Comments are due Jan. 2, replies Feb.2, in docket 22-2.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a self-described neo-conservative think tank, urged the FCC on Monday to require recertification for any authorized device that's modified by an entity on the agency’s “covered list” of unsecure companies. “This oversight would prevent any entity currently on the Covered List from modifying previously authorized equipment in ways that might introduce new vulnerabilities following purchase or installation,” said a filing in docket 21-232. The requirement would “encourage American firms to transition toward alternate suppliers, further bolstering U.S. national security.” The FCC should also impose the “broadest possible prohibitions” to safeguard U.S. security, rather than pinpointing “specific components that may harbor vulnerabilities, such as modular transmitters, logic-bearing hardware, firmware, software, or semiconductors," the group said.
NTIA has approved North Carolina's BEAD final proposal, Gov. Josh Stein (D) said Monday. While the state was allocated $1.53 billion, its final proposal is for more than $300 million in deployment spending, he said. BEAD-funded projects should launch in mid-2026, he said, adding that $670 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for broadband will bring connectivity to more than 250,000 locations by the end of next year.
Representatives of the ioXt Alliance, an IoT security group, met with an aide to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on the agency's cybersecurity labeling program, according to a filing last week in docket 23-239. The alliance, which is a conditionally approved cybersecurity label administrator, discussed “the challenges facing the program in light of implementation delays and opportunities for the program to further U.S. technology leadership, including through engagement in international labeling efforts.”
NCTA opposes a November petition for reconsideration by the California Public Utilities Commission asking the FCC to restore E-rate funding for mobile wireless hot spots off school or library premises, according to a filing posted Monday in docket 21-31. The main argument in the CPUC petition -- “that the Commission erred in concluding that off-premises use of services and equipment was not authorized -- relies on an unconvincing reading of a subsequent statutory provision that does nothing to counter the Commission’s well-reasoned decision,” NCTA said.
With Warner Bros. Discovery's board continuing to urge shareholders to opt for Netflix's takeover offer (see 2512170049), Paramount Skydance is sweetening parts of its rival offer. Paramount said Monday it would boost its regulatory termination fee from $5 billion to $5.8 billion, matching Netflix's.
USTelecom and other industry groups urged the FCC to move forward on proposals in its notice of inquiry about streamlining wireline infrastructure rules. Reply comments on the NOI, which commissioners approved 3-0 in September (see 2509300063), were due last week in docket 25-253. State and local government groups largely opposed changes that could take power away from their members (see 2511180033), but the industry groups said there's a consensus that change is needed.
Industry officials continue weighing the net effect of Friday night's presidential memo on spectrum for full-power licensed use, though its overall importance appears to remain unclear. Federal agencies have already started lining up funding to do various band studies, as directed by the reconciliation package's goal of finding 800 MHz of midband spectrum for 6G, industry and federal officials said. The studies must gain approval as part of the spectrum relocation fund process by a technical panel made up of OMB, the FCC and NTIA.