The Federal Communications Commission

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? New "net neutrality"

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel announced plans to restore net neutrality rules previously reversed during the Trump administration, Axios' Maria Curi and Megan Morrone write. Why it matters: If approved, net neutrality rules would place providers under the same classification as phone companies, allowing the FCC to treat the internet as an essential service subject to greater regulation. ? Between the lines: The issue, which scrambles the usual political camps, is back now that the FCC finally has a Democratic majority. The Obama-era rules — which proponents say are important for keeping the internet free and open — provoke passion among digital-rights groups, which fear messing with the free flow of information. Tech companies warn against government impeding innovation. ? Tim Wu, a Columbia professor and former Obama administration official who coined the term "net neutrality," tells Axios: "Net Neutrality is now more about preventing Big Tech from paying off the telecoms to protect them from any competitors." "I think even the Republican party thinks that the tech firms need more competition." Keep reading.

AI-generated voices in robocalls can deceive voters. The FCC just made them illegal

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday outlawed robocalls that contain voices generated by artificial intelligence, a decision that sends a clear message that exploiting the technology to scam people and mislead voters won’t be tolerated.

https://apnews.com/article/fcc-elections-artificial-intelligence-robocalls-regulations-a8292b1371b3764916461f60660b93e6?

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FCC: It's Game Over for Affordable Broadband Connectivity Program

The FCC announced the ACP’s expiration on Friday after months of pleas by Biden administration officials for Congress to renew funding for the program that had taken $30 off the broadband bills of qualifying lower-income households since the end of 2021. 

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-its-game-over-for-affordable-broadband-connectivity-program?

ps:Of course, because this might help the American people and not the wealthy!!

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The US government wants to make it easier for you to click the ‘unsubscribe’ button

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services.

https://apnews.com/article/consumer-protection-ftc-fcc-biden-250f6eece6e2665535019128e8fa38da?

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FCC Slaps Telecom Firm With $1M Fine for Spreading Fake Biden Robocall

The FCC fines Lingo Telecom $1 million for its role in distributing the AI-generated robocalls that impersonated President Joe Biden during the New Hampshire primaries.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fcc-fines-telecom-firm-1m-for-spreading-fake-biden-robocall?

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CBS agrees to hand over ’60 Minutes’ Harris interview transcripts to FCC

CBS says it will turn over an unedited transcript of its October interview with Kamala Harris to the Federal Communications Commission, part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing fight with the network over how it handled a story about his opponent.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-cbs-60-minutes-harris-interview-ac36372dd700c9d233eee78773473f49?

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60 Minutes publishes transcripts, video requested by FCC

We are posting the same transcripts and videos of our interview with Vice President Kamala Harris that we provided to the FCC. They show – consistent with 60 Minutes' repeated assurances to the public – that the 60 Minutes broadcast was not doctored or deceitful. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-publishes-transcripts-video-requested-by-fcc/?

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The FCC approves Paramount’s $8B deal with Skydance after months of chaos and political intrigue

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, clearing the way to close a deal that combined Hollywood glitz with political intrigue.

https://apnews.com/article/paramount-skydance-merger-fcc-approval-74836c0da9dc0b33f580f714a3f2bfbb?

? FCC backs Skydance-Paramount merger

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

The FCC yesterday approved Skydance's heavily scrutinized $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global — the parent company of CBS, Axios' Sara Fischer and Christine Wang write. Skydance has committed to ensuring the newly combined company will not have DEI programs and will invest in local news. FCC chair Brendan Carr said he welcomes "Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network." "In particular," he added, "Skydance has made written commitments to ensure that the new company's programming embodies a diversity of viewpoints from across the political and ideological spectrum." The other side: Dems slammed the approval as capitulation to President Trump and a further erosion of press freedom. Paramount's settlement with Trump for $16 million paved the way for the FCC to greenlight the deal, but Paramount had been making concessions long before then. Changes at the company prompted top leaders of "60 Minutes" to depart before the settlement. Shortly after the settlement, Skydance CEO David Ellison met with Carr last week to urge the approval of the sale of CBS' broadcast licenses. Two days later, CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Colbert has been a vocal critic of Trump and the settlement. Keep reading. Skydance-Paramount deal The FCC approved the pending merger between Skydance Media and Paramount Global on Thursday. Voting 2-1 along party lines, the commissioners gave the go-ahead to the $8 billion deal, which has been mired in allegations of political interference stemming from President Donald Trump’s scathing criticism and his lawsuit against Paramount’s CBS News division. But on July 1, Paramount agreed to pay $16 million toward Trump’s future presidential library to resolve his legally dubious suit about an edit made to a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris before the November presidential election. Although Paramount and the FCC both insisted that the payout was unrelated to the merger review process, even as many likened it to a “bribe.”

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Why FCC Chief Brendan Carr May Be the Most Dangerous Man in Media

Carr’s most pronounced quality is his total fealty to Donald Trump — and he’s been busy weaponizing the FCC for the cause.

https://theintercept.com/2025/09/19/fcc-brendan-carr-trump-kimmel/?

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US bans new foreign drone models in a blow to Chinese giant DJI

Chinese-made drones have dominated the skies in the United States for years, with private owners, police departments, and firefighters deploying them nationwide. But a new rule by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday will make it impossible for US consumers to buy the next generation of these drones.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/business/us-ban-foreign-drones-dji-intl-hnk?

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ABC stations call FCC’s early call for license renewal ‘unconstitutional’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Local TV stations owned by ABC across the United States blasted the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday for launching an “unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional” early review of their broadcast licenses as a dispute between the network and the Trump-controlled agency intensifies.

https://apnews.com/article/fcc-abc-disney-first-amendment-license-renewal-c3fc4705b054d25e4e8d40f9ef1d1704?