Wireless groups and carriers called on the FCC to push forward on streamlined rules for wireless infrastructure deployment, according to comments filed in docket 25-276. While cutting regulation is a priority under the current administration, other commenters argued that local authorities must retain oversight of permitting in their communities (see 2601020017). Hundreds of fillings also raised RF safety and other concerns. Comments were due last week, and more than 3,500 were posted as of Monday.
House leaders are eyeing floor votes by the end of the week on an FY 2026 minibus appropriations package that would reduce the scope of President Donald Trump’s proposed funding cuts for NTIA and raise allocations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the DOJ Antitrust Division. The package, which leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees released Monday, would give NTIA $50 million for FY26. That’s more than 8% higher than what Trump proposed in June (see 2506020056) but still 12% lower than what the agency received for FY 2025.
Finance and dealmaking experts said they expect robust merger and acquisition activity in the tech, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector this year.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr faces a tough decision in 2026 on whether to push forward with rules that would allow prison officials to jam cellphone signals, with no easy answer in sight, industry officials said. The proposal in a further NPRM faces a tidal wave of opposition from wireless companies and associations but has the backing of many correctional groups and officials in mainly Republican-dominated states (see 2512300043).
The wireless industry and local and state government groups filed comments last week in docket 25-276, disagreeing sharply on the FCC’s wireless infrastructure NPRM, which commissioners approved in September (see 2511250075). The agency has received hundreds of mostly short filings opposing the changes proposed in the notice (see 2512240027).
FCC approval of Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna would violate the law, lead to nationwide TV blackouts, increase ad and retrans prices, damage local journalism and cause a wave of anticompetitive media consolidation, said petitions to deny the deal filed in docket 25-331 by Wednesday’s deadline.
Submarine cable interests are continuing their campaign against the FCC's proposal to license owners and operators of submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE). Replies posted this week in docket 24-523 echoed similar SLTE licensing objections that had been voiced in initial comments (see 2512010043).
While fiber deployments hit record levels in 2025, the year also presented numerous problems, said Ash Brown, chair of the Fiber Broadband Association board, during the group's webinar Wednesday. Brown spoke with association CEO Gary Bolton, who agreed that 2025 wasn’t easy for the fiber industry. Both said fiber will be critical as AI becomes more a part of daily life.
The FCC has limited authority to regulate broadcast networks, and regulatory intervention could destroy the network/affiliate business model, said Fox, Disney, NBCUniversal and Paramount Global in reply filings posted Tuesday in docket 25-322.
After mostly keeping quiet for months, the wireless industry strongly objected this week to a proposal from the FCC to allow correctional facilities to jam cell signals, with the goal of curbing contraband phones. CTIA led the charge against the proposal, which appears to also have strong backing, especially in Republican-dominated states (see 2511140036). Carriers had been expected to raise objections in comments on a further NPRM (see 2509290054), which were due Friday and posted this week in docket 13-111.