State of The Nation

FCC's Deregulation Push: Which Rules Could Be on the Chopping Block? April 18, 2025 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving forward with its ambitious deregulation initiative after receiving public comments on which telecommunications rules should be eliminated. The FCC's "Delete, Delete, Delete" docket (GN Docket No. 25-133), opened on March 12, 2025, solicited public input on identifying "unnecessary regulatory burdens" that could be eliminated to promote investment, development, and innovation in the telecommunications sector. The comment period closed on April 11, with reply comments due by April 28, 2025. Industry watchers and regulatory experts suggest that several high-profile FCC rules could be targeted for elimination or significant modification, with the most controversial likely to include net neutrality regulations, media ownership rules, and consumer privacy requirements. Net Neutrality at Risk Again Net neutrality has become ...

  This graphic helps visualize the key concepts how DRM implementation in ATSC 3.0 potentially transfers control of public airwaves to private technology companies like Google, raising important questions about accessibility, interoperability, and regulatory oversight. By Technology Staff | April 15, 2025 A formal comment filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today is raising serious questions about whether the next generation of television broadcasting is undermining public access to the airwaves by handing significant control to Google. San Diego resident Stephen Pendergast submitted a detailed challenge to the FCC's GN Docket No. 16-142, arguing that the implementation of Digital Rights Management (DRM) encryption in ATSC 3.0 (commonly marketed as "NextGen TV") conflicts with fundamental broadcasting laws that established the airwaves as a public resource. "The implementation of DRM encryption effectively privatizes access to what is legally de...