A Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of violating the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule with her cameo appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’ this weekend. The commissioner claims that Harris’s appearance was a partisan attempt to influence voters ahead of the election, sparking debate about the role of media platforms in political neutrality.
The FCC is considering a rule that would force carriers to unlock phones within 60 days of purchase. While consumer advocates hail the move as a way to increase choice and lower prices, major carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile argue it could harm consumers. The proposed rule has sparked a heated debate with potential consequences for consumers and the mobile phone industry.
T-Mobile has agreed to significantly improve its cybersecurity infrastructure following a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The agreement includes commitments to address security vulnerabilities, enhance cyber hygiene, and implement modern security frameworks. T-Mobile will also pay a $15.75 million civil penalty.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has criticized FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel for labeling Starlink a monopoly in the satellite internet sector. Carr points to the FCC’s previous decision to deny Starlink subsidies, highlighting a perceived contradiction in the agency’s stance. This clash underscores the ongoing debate over competition and regulation in the space internet industry.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has called for increased competition in the space industry, specifically targeting Starlink’s dominance with nearly two-thirds of active satellites in orbit. The FCC is taking steps to encourage other companies to build their own constellations and is implementing stricter deorbiting regulations to address space debris concerns. This comes amidst recent controversies involving Starlink’s pricing practices and a rejected Rural Digital Opportunity Fund award.
DirecTV has filed a complaint with the FCC against Disney, accusing them of negotiating in bad faith during a carriage dispute. This dispute has resulted in a blackout of Disney channels for DirecTV subscribers, affecting access to popular content like ESPN and ABC. The blackout has impacted millions of subscribers during significant events like college football and the U.S. Open, raising concerns about potential disruption to the upcoming presidential debate. While DirecTV accuses Disney of anticompetitive practices, Disney argues for a standard release of claims following negotiations.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has condemned Brazil’s ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform X and the freezing of Starlink assets, calling it a violation of free speech and Brazilian law. He has also requested a meeting with the Brazilian telecom regulator to address the issue.
A company that used artificial intelligence to mimic President Biden’s voice in deceptive robocalls to New Hampshire voters has agreed to pay a $1 million fine. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took action against Lingo Telecom, the voice service provider, highlighting concerns about the potential misuse of AI in influencing elections. The case underscores the growing threat of deepfakes to democracy and the importance of verifying information online.
A report from the Federal Communications Commission reveals the full extent of AT&T’s February 22 outage, highlighting the disruption to over 125 million devices, blocked 911 calls, and the company’s lack of sufficient testing before implementing a network change. The FCC is investigating potential violations of FCC rules and may impose a significant fine on AT&T.
The FCC is proposing a new rule that would require mobile providers to unlock customer phones within 60 days of activation, potentially making it easier for consumers to switch carriers. This proposal aims to address carrier locking practices that prevent users from freely changing providers.
