Interconnected TMT

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in recent months has stepped up its scrutiny of artificial intelligence (AI) in the communications sector, focusing on AI-generated robocalls and political advertisements. The increased attention is part of a larger effort to boost transparency and guard consumers and voters against misinformation and undue influence.

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the Universal Service Fund (USF) funding mechanism is unconstitutional. The full court, sitting en banc, rejected the framework established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for determining and collecting USF contributions.

While much of the sector’s attention is focused on significant changes to the legal framework around telecom, media and technology (TMT) policy-making, wireless and satellite dealmaking remains robust and largely unchallenged by regulators.

After months of negotiations, the President Biden signed into law the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act after months of negotiations and numerous last-minute extensions. The Act funds the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 with over $105 billion in appropriations.

To learn more, please find our detailed analysis linked here.

To learn more, please find our detailed analysis linked here.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed a bill on February 8 that would fund the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next five years. This is the first sign of good progress on FAA Reauthorization since the House of Representatives passed its own version in July 2023. The Senate version of the bill was stalled in Committee, held up by a series of disagreements among senators on issues affecting pilots, including training requirements and a mandatory retirement age. When no progress was made by the end of last year, Congress was forced to pass a second short-term extension bill to fund the agency through March 8, 2024.

To learn more, please find our detailed analysis linked here.