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 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 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.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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. 

Read about a New York federal court’s decision in Cacho v. McCarthy & Kelly, which provides valuable insights into TCPA compliance and defense strategies post-Chevron.

Read about the FCC’s Initial Determination Order against a provider facilitating illegal tax robocalls and draft Notices of Proposed Rulemaking related to Robocall Mitigation Database procedures and AI-related issues in robocalling, plus a New York federal court’s decision in Cacho v. McCarthy & Kelly, which provides valuable insights into TCPA compliance and defense strategies post-Chevron.

Read about the FCC’s Initial Determination Order against Veriwave Telco, a provider facilitating illegal tax robocalls, and draft Notices of Proposed Rulemaking related to Robocall Mitigation Database procedures and AI-related issues in robocalling that will be considered at its August Open Meeting.

In their webinar “The Telecom Industry Post Chevron – What It Means for your Business”, Communications Infrastructure Litigation Chair T. Scott Thompson, Technology, Communications & Media Chair Angela Kung, and Member Daniel Reing explored the implications of the decision for the telecom industry, and offered insights on how companies can adapt to this significant change. 

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 proposed changes to its rules governing use of the 3.5 GHz band, which may lead to greater use of the spectrum nationwide for commercial wireless services. 

Read about a North American Numbering Council meeting scheduled for December, at which the council will consider imposing new obligations on interconnected VoIP providers that obtain direct access to numbers and on resellers of numbers.

Read about a Maryland federal court’s decision that a defendant in a TCPA case had not obtained prior express written consent via phone to make certain telemarketing calls and a Fourth Circuit opinion providing further guidance on fax advertisements under the TCPA.