Recent Articles

FCC Initiates Net Neutrality Rulemaking

Sheppard Mullin
November 02, 2009 18:12

In its latest move in the "net neutrality" debate, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in late October 2009 that breaks from the FCC's historically restrained approach to Internet regulation and proposes a host of new prohibitions and...

D.C. Circuit Strikes Down Cable Ownership Cap

Sheppard Mullin
September 10, 2009 14:42

On August 28, 2009, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in Comcast Corporation v. FCC, which vacated the FCC's 30% limit on the number of subscribers to which a cable operator could offer service.   The 30% cap, created in 1993, was initially...

Increased Prospects for Broadband Deployment under Obama

Sheppard Mullin
December 18, 2008 18:31

A broad coalition of telecommunications companies and organizations has called upon President-elect Barack Obama to prioritize broadband deployment and stimulate investment in broadband services.  This large coalition – which includes AT&T, Verizon, Google, Alcatel-Lucent,...

Senate Passes FISA Bill With Telecom Immunity

Sheppard Mullin
July 16, 2008 20:55

The Senate recently voted 69-28 in favor of a bill (H.R. 6304) that will provide retroactive legal immunity to telephone companies that participated in the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program.  The bill’s passage ended more than a year of legislative debate over...

FCC Steps Up DTV Enforcement

Sheppard Mullin
April 17, 2008 23:28

The FCC’s recent DTV enforcement actions made one thing clear – the Commission is being vigilant in the enforcement of its digital television (or “DTV”) regulations.  On April 9, 2008, the FCC adopted notices of apparent liability (“NALs”) against eleven...

Incumbents Big Winners in 700 MHz Auction

Sheppard Mullin
April 01, 2008 19:39

The FCC recently announced the results of auctions for newly available 700 MHz radio spectrum.  Altogether, 1090 licenses were sold to 101 different bidders.  Over $19 billion was raised by the auction – an amount that far exceeds the sum raised in any single spectrum previously...

Washington Update - July/August 2007

Sheppard Mullin
September 13, 2007 19:29

I. Legislative Branch ActivityA. Senate Committee Passes Three Telecom Bills.On July 19, the Senate Commerce Committee approved three telecommunications bills: a broadband data bill (S-1492), a number porting measure (S-1769), and an indecency bill (S-1780). The broadband data bill, as passed...

Washington Update - June 2007

Sheppard Mullin
July 03, 2007 14:18

I. Legislative Branch ActivityA. Senate Committee Passes Caller ID Spoofing Bill.On June 28, the Senate Commerce Committee, by a voice vote, passed an anti-spoofing bill (S-704). This bill orders the FCC to write rules within 6 months of enactment and would impose civil and criminal...

Washington Update - May 2007

Sheppard Mullin
June 05, 2007 21:44

I. Legislative Branch ActivityA. Inouye Introduces Broadband Deployment Bills.On May 24, Sen. Inouye (D-HI) presented a bill (S.1492), which seeks to improve upon the quality of data collection used for FCC broadband status reports. Instead of the current standard use of 5 digit zip codes, the...

Washington Update - March/April 2007

Sheppard Mullin
May 04, 2007 18:58

I. Legislative Branch ActivityA. Senate Commerce Committee Meets to Discuss Universal Service.On March 1, the Senate Commerce Committee invited Commissioners Tate and Copps, as well as other regulatory officials, to discuss the Universal Service Fund (USF). Senators from rural areas...