Technology, Communications & Media

The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily lives.  Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools and resources it needs to keep pace with this evolving landscape.  This blog provides monthly updates on actions by federal regulatory bodies responsible for communications policy and Congressional efforts to support wireless connectivity.  And this month we highlight the FCC’s grant of SpaceX’s request to provide direct-to-cell services from Starlink satellites using T‑Mobile spectrum so that T-Mobile customers can have access to wireless services where they do not have it today. 

This month’s newsletter covers an FCC Report and Order authorizing many telecommunications service providers to use third parties to “sign” calls on their behalf consistent with STIR/SHAKEN’s technical requirements. It also discusses a California federal court’s summary judgment decision in Williams v. DDR Media, LLC, which sent a message that compliance tools that prioritize privacy and operate without substantive interpretation of communications are not wiretapping consumers under the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

Read about an FCC Report and Order authorizing originating, intermediate, and gateway telecommunications service providers to engage third parties to perform the technological act of “signing” calls on their behalf consistent with the technical requirements of the STIR/SHAKEN standards. 

Read about a California federal court’s summary judgment decision in Williams v. DDR Media, LLC, which sent the message that that compliance tools that prioritize privacy and operate without substantive interpretation of communications are not wiretapping consumers under the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily lives.  Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools and resources it needs to keep pace with this evolving landscape.  This blog provides monthly updates on actions by federal regulatory bodies responsible for communications policy and Congressional efforts to support wireless connectivity.  And this month we highlight the release of the National Spectrum Research and Development Plan.

Read about FCC compliance rules concerning consumer requests to revoke consent for calls and texts under the TCPA, FCC Enforcement Bureau actions aimed at stopping the transmission of illegal robocall traffic over gateway provider Identidad Advertising Development LLC’s network, and a pending Supreme Court case that raises the issue of whether the Hobbs Act required a district court to accept the FCC’s interpretation of the TCPA as it pertains to faxes received by email. 

Read about McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates, Inc. v. McKesson Corporation, a pending Supreme Court case that raises the issue of whether the Hobbs Act required a district court to accept the FCC’s interpretation of the TCPA as it pertains to faxes received by email. 

Read about FCC compliance rules concerning consumer requests to revoke consent for calls and texts under the TCPA and FCC Enforcement Bureau actions aimed at stopping the transmission of illegal robocall traffic over gateway provider Identidad Advertising Development LLC’s network.

The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily lives.  Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools and resources it needs to keep pace with this evolving landscape.  This blog provides monthly updates on actions by federal regulatory bodies responsible for communications policy and Congressional efforts to support wireless connectivity.  And this month we highlight the Ninth Circuit’s ruling on the FCC’s clarifications with respect to wireless infrastructure deployment.

Read about a Florida federal court’s dismissal of a TCPA class action involving a text message and multiple calls stemming from the plaintiff’s disclosure of her phone number during a store survey.

Read about an FCC Report and Order commissioners will vote on individually that encompasses two other pending orders related to call-blocking, text-message blocking, and making e-mail-to-text an opt-in service. This month’s newsletter also covers a Florida federal court’s dismissal of a TCPA class action involving a text message and multiple calls stemming from the plaintiff’s disclosure of her phone number during a store survey.

Read about an FCC Report and Order commissioners will vote on individually that encompasses two other pending orders related to call-blocking, text-message blocking, and making e-mail-to-text an opt-in service. As drafted, the order declines to impose several call and text blocking requirements.

The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily lives.  Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools and resources it needs to keep pace with this evolving landscape.  This blog provides monthly updates on actions by federal regulatory bodies responsible for communications policy and Congressional efforts to support wireless connectivity.  And this month we highlight the FCC’s release of proposed changes to its rules governing the use of mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for commercial wireless services.

Read about the FCC’s adoption of a Notice of Apparent Liability against voice service provider Lingo Telecom, its proposed rulemaking focused on AI-generated robocalls and robotexts, and its Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on protecting privacy in connection with calls made using AI technologies, plus a Texas federal court decision that provides guidance on when a call or text message qualifies as telemarketing and requires heightened consent.

Read about the FCC’s adoption of a Notice of Apparent Liability against voice service provider Lingo Telecom, a proposed FCC rulemaking focused on AI-generated robocalls and robotexts, and its Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on protecting privacy in connection with calls made using AI technologies.

Read about a Texas federal court’s decision in Bradford v. Sovereign Pest Control, which provided valuable guidance on when a call or text message qualifies as telemarketing and requires heightened consent.

The wireless industry has revolutionized the way we connect, from facilitating teleworking, distance learning, and telemedicine to allowing the American public to interact virtually in almost all other aspects of their daily lives.  Leading policymakers – federal regulators and legislators – are making it a top priority to ensure that the wireless industry has the tools and resources it needs to keep pace with this evolving landscape.  This blog provides monthly updates on actions by federal regulatory bodies responsible for communications policy and Congressional efforts to support wireless connectivity.  And this month, we highlight a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) on key agency practices to help improve receiver performance in wireless devices.