Insights on Communications & Technology

The Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force has been Re-Chartered for a Second Term, and its Industry Members have been announced. The first meeting of the re-chartered Task Force has been scheduled for January 13, 2022, at 10 am.

The FCC announced that it will host a “virtual roundtable” on Monday, December 6, 2021, starting at 10:00 a.m. EST that will focus on the FCC’s “telehealth initiatives and the benefits they can bring to communities across the country.”

In a Notice of Inquiry, the FCC is requesting public comment in a proceeding that will help determine the scope and nature of regulation of the “Internet of Things” for the next several decades.

The latest trends and developments in the class action world.

An April Supreme Court ruling significantly reduced the scope of communications platforms that could be considered autodialers subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

FCC Seeks Nominations for Membership on Task Force and Its Working Groups by July 12, 2021

Join Partner Adam Bowser for the “Higher Education Texting: Regulations & Best Practices” webinar, where he will explain TCPA, the often confusing rules around different types of SMS text messages, and best practices to keep your higher education institution or business compliant.

The latest trends and developments in the class action world

During this political season, there’s no doubt that candidates and political groups have been urging their supporters – and complete strangers – to get to the polls by sending an unprecedented amount of text messages.

On January 6, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) location requirements go into effect for fixed multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) and interconnected VoIP services, which now include outbound-only VoIP services for purposes of emergency calling.

The report, issued by the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics, finds that broadband availability has significant positive impacts on crop yields and other farm production metrics.

For the first time, the FCC will have formal rules governing the process for Team Telecom review of license applications involving foreign ownership.

In a Public Notice released today, the FCC announced that its “Connected Care Pilot Program” (Pilot Program) application filing window will open on Friday, November 6, 2020, at 12:00 pm ET and will close on Monday, December 7, 2020, at 11:59 pm ET.

Task Force Approves Reports Addressing Mapping, Connectivity Demand, and Connected Farm Employment

There are two wildly different interpretations of what constitutes an autodialer under the TCPA currently employed by different federal circuit courts.

Substantial funding for precision agriculture is anticipated as part of FCC 5G Fund to support next generation wireless services.

In response to President Trump’s May 28, 2020 Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) filed a Petition for Rulemaking at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week.

Section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act, which has been around for more than 20 years, gives online platform providers and others protection from claims that information posted on their sites by third parties violates a law or someone else’s rights.

On April 4, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 13913, “Establishing the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector.” 

Arent Fox Partner Adam Bowser will speak as part of the “TCPA Compliance: Marketing vs. Informational Calls & Text Messages” webinar.

Schiff Hardin LLP is pleased to announce that 88 attorneys have been named to the 2020 Leading Lawyers list.

AT&T is facing another potential setback to its “5G Evolution” advertising campaign after the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau concluded that AT&T’s “5G E” claims are misleading to consumers. AT&T intends to appeal the NAD’s decision.

In the next month, Congress intends to present the President with legislation to combat robocalls, which will require service providers to provide a software to consumers aimed at re-establishing trust in the communications ecosystem.

The Federal Communications Commission requests comment on whether companies can send follow-up messages to clarify the scope of a consumer’s opt-out without violating the TCPA. 

As the dust settles on a campaign cycle that was unprecedented in many ways, we have composed this biennial post-election analysis to assist our clients in assessing the potential impact of the elections on their organizations and their industries.