Even before taking office, incoming members of the Trump Administration and some Republican members of Congress criticized various regulatory requirements in the $42.5 billion BEAD program as being unnecessarily burdensome and contributing to a perceived slow rollout of BEAD funding.
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Broadband Grants Are Still Taxable Income. Will the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act Finally Fix It?
In March 2022, we published a blog post explaining that broadband grants are apparently subject to federal income taxation. Three years later, and with $42.5 billion in BEAD grants on the verge of disbursement, nothing has changed.
As discussed in
FCC Proposes Increased Broadband Availability in the 900 MHz Band
On January 16, 2025, the FCC closed out Jessica Rosenworcel’s term as Chairwoman by releasing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) seeking to expand the use of the 896-901/935-940 MHz (“900 MHz”) band for broadband use. The NPRM builds on
FCC Responds to Cybersecurity Threats with CALEA Ruling
Earlier this month, in the waning days of Jessica Rosenworcel’s tenure as Chair of the Democrat-led FCC, the FCC released a Declaratory Ruling concluding that Section 105 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) requires telecommunications carriers to
FCC Responds to Cybersecurity Threats with CALEA Ruling
Earlier this month, in the waning days of Jessica Rosenworcel’s tenure as Chair of the Democrat-led FCC, the FCC released a Declaratory Ruling concluding that Section 105 of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) requires telecommunications carriers to
FCC Adopts 4.9 GHz Band Order
On October 18, 2024, the FCC adopted an Eighth Report and Order in its 4.9 GHz band proceeding. The new rules will permit a yet-to-be-selected Band Manager to be eligible for a nationwide license in the band, overlaying the licenses
FCC’s NG911 Transition Rules
Over the summer, the FCC adopted the first nationwide Next Generation 911 (“NG911”) transition rules to define the responsibilities and set deadlines for originating service providers (“OSPs”) to implement NG911 capabilities and deliver 911 calls to NG911 systems. The final
FCC Proposes Tweaks to its CBRS Rules
Last month, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that could revise the agency’s Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”) rules in the 3.5 GHz band. The objective of the proposed changes is to better protect incumbent federal users and
The End of Chevron Deference for Agency Decisions: Potential Implications for Telecommunications Policy
DISH Calls Foul on T-Mobile’s Plans for 800 MHz Spectrum
In 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice and the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota brought a civil antitrust suit opposing the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint. According to the lawsuit, consolidating nationwide carriers from four to