News Update - FCC-Broadband-Telecom - July 2025
FCC Announces Final Agenda For August 7, 2025 Open Meeting
July 31, 2025 – The Federal Communications Commission has announced the following final agenda for its open meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2025:
Revamping NEPA Review to Accelerate Infrastructure Deployment – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would examine the Commission’s environmental rules to ensure they comport with the amended National Environmental Policy Act, accelerate the federal permitting process, further a national priority of faster and more infrastructure deployment, and ensure that the Commission’s rules are clear. (WT Docket No. 25-217)
Streamlining Space Bureau Reviews – The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order that advances opportunities for innovation in the space economy by taking measures to expedite the application processes for space stations and earth stations, to remove barriers for modifying authorizations, and to remove outdated rules. (IB Docket Nos. 22-411, 22-271)
Accelerating Buildout of Secure Undersea Cable Infrastructure – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would modernize the Commission’s submarine cable rules to unleash high-speed infrastructure deployment, while strengthening our national security. The Commission will also consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would build upon the Report and Order by proposing measures to further streamline and improve timeliness of submarine cable application review and make other updates to address national security threats. (OI Docket No. 24-523, MD Docket No. 24-524)
Evaluating the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that would initiate the annual assessment of whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, as required by section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. (GN Docket No. 25-223)
Examining the Nation’s Alerting Systems – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would examine the national alert and warning systems from the ground up and explore ways to make them more effective, efficient, and better able to serve the public’s needs. (PS Docket No. 25-224)
Modernizing the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to reduce the reporting burdens on communication service providers during disasters through the modernization of DIRS. The Commission will also consider an accompanying Order on Reconsideration that clarifies the situations in which outage reporting requirements are suspended during DIRS activations. (PS Docket Nos. 21-346, 15-80; ET Docket No. 04-35)
Addressing Business Data Services Pricing Regulations – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose to end rate regulation and tariffing obligations for legacy circuit-based business data services provided by incumbent local exchange carriers, and an Order temporarily pausing the triennial update to the competitive market tests pending review of the record in this proceeding. (WC Docket Nos. 21-17, 17-144)
Deleting 98 Obsolete Broadcast Rules and Requirements – The Commission will consider a Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure. The Commission’s “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete” docket seeks public input on identifying FCC rules for the purpose of alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens. (GN Docket No. 25-133)
The FCC’s August 7th open meeting is scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m. ET in the Commission Meeting Room of the Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public, but the FCC headquarters building is not open access, and all guests must check in with and be screened by FCC security at the main entrance on L Street. All FCC open meetings are streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.
Q Link Wireless & CEO/Owner Issa Asad Agree To Pay $110.6 Million To Resolve Criminal Charges Related To Lifeline Program Fraud
July 28, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Q Link Wireless LLC and its owner, Issa Asad have agreed to pay $110,637,057 to resolve criminal charges and civil allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program. In October 15, 2024, Q Link and Mr. Asad pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from the universal service Lifeline program. Mr. Asad also admitted to defrauding and laundering money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a government program created to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asad began defrauding the Lifeline program as early as 2012 and continued through at least 2021 “by making repeated false claims for reimbursement, taking and retaining Lifeline funds that it was not entitled to receive, providing false information about its Lifeline customers, and deceiving the FCC about its compliance with program rules. Asad directed these illegal activities and conspired with others to commit the fraud.” When Mr. Asad and other Q Link Wireless employees learned that the FCC was investigating them for Lifeline compliance, they “created and provided false records to the FCC to conceal the scam and to continue collecting reimbursement.
FCC Direct Final Rule Repeals Obsolete Restrictions On Phone Booth Closures, Captioning On Analog TV Receivers, Auction Obligations That Sunset 20 Years Ago
July 28, 2025 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a Direct Final Rule which “repeals restrictions on phone booth closures, captioning on analog TV receivers, auction obligations that sunset 20 years ago, and references to long-repealed telegraph rules.” The action is being taken as part of the FCC’s “In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete” docket. It “remove[s] 11 outdated and useless rule provisions—covering 39 regulatory burdens, 7,194 words, and 16 pages—from [the FCC’s] books.” Absent any significant adverse comments in response to the Direct Final Rule, the obsolete rules will be repealed. The FCC’s direct final rule process can be used to remove regulatory rules and requirements in situations where prior notice and comment is unnecessary under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
FCC NPRM Proposes Targeted Revisions To Slamming & Truth-In-Billing Rules
July 25, 2025 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which explores whether the FCC’s slamming and truth-in-billing rules remain necessary to protect consumers. The FCC explains that if the slamming and truth-in-billing rules remain necessary, the FCC “propose[s] changes to modernize and simplify the rules to reflect the evolution of the telecommunications marketplace and reduce regulatory burdens, while retaining core consumer protections against unauthorized carrier switches and charges.” Slamming is an industry term for the illegal practice of switching a consumer's wireline telephone company for local, local toll, or long distance service without permission. Cramming occurs when a service provider places charges on a subscriber’s bill for products and services that the subscriber did not authorize. Among other things, the FCC’s truth-in-billing rules include requirements that bills must: (1) be clearly organized, clearly identify the service provider associated with each charge, and highlight any new provider (i.e., one that did not bill the customer for service during the last billing cycle); (2) contain brief, clear, and non-misleading descriptions of the charges that appear on the bill; and (3) contain clear and conspicuous disclosure of any information that the consumer might need to make inquiries about, or to contest, charges on the bill, including toll-free numbers.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda For August 7, 2025 Open Meeting
July 17, 2025 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has announced the following tentative agenda for the FCC’s open meeting on Thursday, August 7, 2025:
Revamping NEPA Review to Accelerate Infrastructure Deployment – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would examine the Commission’s environmental rules to ensure they comport with the amended National Environmental Policy Act, accelerate the federal permitting process, further a national priority of faster and more infrastructure deployment, and ensure that the Commission’s rules are clear. (WT Docket No. 25-217)
Streamlining Space Bureau Reviews – The Commission will consider a Second Report and Order that advances opportunities for innovation in the space economy by taking measures to expedite the application processes for space stations and earth stations, to remove barriers for modifying authorizations, and to remove outdated rules. (IB Docket Nos. 22-411, 22-271)
Accelerating Buildout of Secure Undersea Cable Infrastructure – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would modernize the Commission’s submarine cable rules to unleash high-speed infrastructure deployment, while strengthening our national security. The Commission will also consider a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would build upon the Report and Order by proposing measures to further streamline and improve timeliness of submarine cable application review and make other updates to address national security threats. (OI Docket No. 24-523, MD Docket No. 24-524)
Evaluating the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications – The Commission will consider a Notice of Inquiry that would initiate the annual assessment of whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion, as required by section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. (GN Docket No. 25-223)
Examining the Nation’s Alerting Systems – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would examine the national alert and warning systems from the ground up and explore ways to make them more effective, efficient, and better able to serve the public’s needs. (PS Docket No. 25-224)
Modernizing the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to reduce the reporting burdens on communication service providers during disasters through the modernization of DIRS. The Commission will also consider an accompanying Order on Reconsideration that clarifies the situations in which outage reporting requirements are suspended during DIRS activations. (PS Docket Nos. 21-346, 15-80; ET Docket No. 04-35)
Addressing Business Data Services Pricing Regulations – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would propose to end rate regulation and tariffing obligations for legacy circuit-based business data services provided by incumbent local exchange carriers, and an Order temporarily pausing the triennial update to the competitive market tests pending review of the record in this proceeding. (WC Docket Nos. 21-17, 17-144)
Deleting 98 Obsolete Broadcast Rules and Requirements – The Commission will consider a Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure. The Commission’s “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete” docket seeks public input on identifying FCC rules for the purpose of alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens. (GN Docket No. 25-133)
The FCC’s August 7th open meeting is scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m. ET in the Commission Meeting Room of the Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public, but the FCC headquarters building is not open access, and all guests must check in with and be screened by FCC security at the main entrance on L Street. All FCC open meetings are streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.
FCC Announces Lifeline Minimum Service Standards & Lifeline Program Budget For 2026
July 14, 2025 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) has announced the updated minimum service standards for Lifeline-supported services. The WCB also has announced that the budget for federal universal service fund support for the Lifeline program for calendar year 2026 will be $2,976,503,538. The updated Lifeline minimum service standards are as follows:
Mobile Broadband Minimum Service Standard – On July 1, 2025, the WCB extended for an additional year the waiver pausing the increase in the Lifeline minimum service standards for mobile broadband data capacity. As such, the standard will continue to be 4.5 GB per month until December 1, 2026.
Fixed Broadband Minimum Service Standard For Data Usage Allowance – Pursuant to the 2016 Lifeline Order, beginning December 1, 2025, the Lifeline minimum service standard for fixed broadband data usage will be 1280 GB per month, as calculated from the 2025 Urban Rate Survey data.
Mobile Voice Telephony Minimum Service Standard – The 2016 Lifeline Order established an automatic update to the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service through November 30, 2018. Accordingly, pursuant to the 2016 Lifeline Order, on December 1, 2025, the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile voice service will remain unchanged, at 1000 minutes per month.
Annual Lifeline Budget – The 2016 Lifeline Order adopted an initial budget of $2.25 billion for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2017, and stated that the budget amount will be indexed to inflation in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for all items from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. To perform this calculation, the WCB used the annual percent change factor for the preceding year (here, 2024) to the year in which the calculation is being performed. Based on this calculation, the indexed budget for federal universal service support for the Lifeline program for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2025 was $2,892,617,627, and the indexed budget for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 will be $2,976,503,538.
Four Rate-Of-Return Local Exchange Carriers Move Business Data Services To Incentive Regulation
July 14, 2025 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has announced four rate-of-return local exchange carrier study areas in four states elected to move their business data services (BDS) offerings to incentive regulation effective July 1, 2025. In the 2018 Rate-of-Return BDS Order, the FCC permitted rate-of-return carriers receiving Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) or fixed high-cost universal service fund support to elect to transition certain BDS offerings from rate-of-return to incentive regulation. Eligible carriers were able to elect BDS incentive regulation in 2019 and 2020. The FCC also provided eligible carriers that accept future offers of A-CAM support with an opportunity to elect BDS incentive regulation on July 1st in the tariff year following their A-CAM election. The four rate-of-return local exchange carriers electing incentive regulation for their BDS offerings are: Amelia Telephone Corporation (VA); Chillicothe Telephone Company (OH); New Castle Telephone Company (VA); and Union River Telephone Company d/b/a Rivah.net (ME).
Effective Date Announced For Certain Revisions To Section 54.313 Annual Reporting And Certification Requirements For Enhanced A-CAM Carriers And Other High-Cost USF Recipients
July 9, 2025 – The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, an information collection associated with high-cost universal service fund annual reporting requirements. OMB’s announcement in the Federal Register provides the following explanation of the applicable amendments to the FCC’s rules and their effective dates:
The amendments to § 54.313(f)(1) introductory text, (f)(1)(i), and (f)(6) published at 88 FR 55918, August 17, 2023 and the amendments to § 54.313 heading and paragraphs (a)(2) and (3), (a)(6) introductory text, (g), and (i) (amendatory instruction 10), and § 54.314 (amendatory instruction 11) published at 89 FR 25147, April 10, 2024 are effective July 9, 2025.
The revisions to section 54.313(f)(1)(i) require each carrier receiving Enhanced A-CAM support to certify “that it is offering broadband service with latency suitable for real-time applications, including Voice over internet Protocol, and usage capacity that is reasonably comparable to comparable offerings in urban areas.” The revisions to section 54.313(f)(6) require carriers receiving Enhanced A-CAM support to certify participation in BEAD Program challenge processes; certify participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program or any substantially similar successor program; and certify that they have cybersecurity and supply chain risk management plans pursuant to section 54.308(e) and report whether they filed any substantive changes.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act Renews FCC Spectrum Authority, Directs FCC To Auction Spectrum And Identify Spectrum For Future Auctions
July 4, 2025 – President Trump has signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) into law. It renews the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to conduct spectrum auctions until September 30, 2034. The new law requires the FCC to auction not less than 300 megahertz of spectrum prior to the authority’s expiration, and requires the FCC to auction not less than 100 megahertz of spectrum in the band between 3.98 gigahertz and 4.2 gigahertz (C-Band spectrum) within two years. The new law directs the FCC and the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to identify another 500 megahertz of federal spectrum to reallocate for commercial or shared uses that support commercially-licensed use cases. Only two pieces of spectrum were exempted from reallocation and auction considerations: 3.1-3.45 GHz, used by U.S. defense systems, and 7.4-8.4 GHz, used by the Department of Defense which includes defense satellite systems. The Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum band (3550-3650 MHz) did not receive formal protection. Unlicensed Wi-Fi 7 spectrum (.925-7.125 MHz) also did not receive protection.
FCC Announces Tentative Agenda For July 24th Open Meeting
July 3, 2025 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has announced the following tentative agenda for the FCC’s next open meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025:
Accelerating Upgrade Away from Old Copper Line Networks – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes and seeks comment on revisions to the Commission’s network change disclosure rules and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to eliminate regulatory barriers and costs, thus encouraging the swift transition to IP-based networks and advanced communications services for consumers. (WC Docket Nos. 25-209, 25-208)
Removing Barriers to Broadband Deployment and Investment – The Commission will consider a Fifth Report and Order, a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Orders on Reconsideration to promote broadband infrastructure deployment by ensuring greater collaboration between utilities and attachers, establishing a timeline for large pole attachment requests, implementing other improvements to the pole attachment timeline, and speeding up the contractor approval process. The Commission would seek comment on ways to further facilitate the pole attachment process and on defining the term “pole” for purposes of section 224, and would resolve two petitions for reconsideration of prior Commission action. (WC Docket No. 17-84)
Moving Closer to AWS-3 Spectrum Auction – The Commission will consider a Report and Order and Second Report and Order that would update 10-year-old AWS-3 service-specific designated entity eligibility requirements to bring those requirements, along with related eligibility requirements contained in the part 1 competitive bidding rules, in line with the Commission’s current auctions practice. (GN Docket Nos. 25-70; 25-71; 13-185)
Streamlined Repeal of Outdated and Obsolete Rules – The Commission will consider a Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure and clarify the potential use of the direct final rule procedure in other circumstances in the future. (GN Docket No. 25-133)
Improved Truth-in-Billing and Slamming Rules – The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to modernize and simplify the Commission’s slamming and Truth-in-Billing rules to reflect the evolution of the telecommunications marketplace, retain core consumer protections against unauthorized carrier switches and charges, and reduce regulatory burdens that can stifle innovation. (CG Docket No. 17-169; CC Docket No. 98-170)
988 Text Georouting to Improve Access to the 988 Lifeline – The Commission will consider a Report and Order that would adopt rules to require wireless providers to transmit data that enables text messages sent to the 988 Lifeline to be routed to the closest local crisis center based on a person’s general geographic location. (WC Docket No. 18-336)
The FCC’s July 24th open meeting is scheduled to commence at 10:30 a.m. ET in the Commission Meeting Room of the Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public, but the FCC headquarters building is not open access, and all guests must check in with and be screened by FCC security at the main entrance on L Street. All FCC open meetings are streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr “Build America” Speech Outlines Agenda For FCC
July 2, 2025 – FCC Chairman Brendan Carr delivered a policy speech in Sioux Falls, South Dakota which outlined his “Build America” agenda for the Federal Communications Commission. Chairman Carr’s Build America Agenda focuses on the following core objectives:
Unleashing High-Speed Infrastructure Builds – The FCC must do its part to unleash high-speed infrastructure builds in communities all across the country. We made a lot of good progress on this front during President Trump’s first term but there is more work to be done to cut red tape that is driving up costs and holding back Internet builds.
Restoring America’s Leadership in Wireless – We also need to free up more spectrum that connects our communities and restore America’s wireless leadership. This is an important step because freeing up spectrum creates jobs, increases competition, and drives down prices for consumers.
Boosting America’s Space Economy – From the high-speed Internet services they are offering to protecting the homeland, our space industry is delivering real results for the country. We must ensure that U.S. businesses dominate in orbit.
Cutting Red Tape and Modernizing FCC Operations – Outdated and unnecessary regulations from Washington can derail efforts to bring communities across the digital divide. That is why our Build America Agenda includes a comprehensive initiative to eliminate rules and regulations that are unlawful, outdated, or no longer necessary.
Advancing National Security and Public Safety – Our Build America Agenda will ensure the U.S. maintains secure and resilient networks. It will extend America’s leadership over China in the race for critical technologies like 5G, 6G, and AI so that American companies continue to be the gold standard around the world.
Strengthening America’s Workforce – We cannot advance a Build America Agenda without a strong U.S. workforce. That is why the FCC is already working to ensure that tower and telecom crews can operate in a safe and sustainable environment with rising wages. By looking out for the American worker, we will see continued growth ahead.
Mergers & Acquisitions: TPG Completes Acquisition Of Leading Communications Infrastructure Investor Peppertree Capital
July 2, 2025 – TPG, Inc. has announced the completion of its acquisition of Peppertree Capital Management. In May 2025, the companies announced they had entered into a definitive agreement under which TPG would acquire the Peppertree business in a cash and equity transaction estimated to include up to $242 million in cash and up to $418 million in equity, payable at closing, in each case, subject to certain adjustments. Peppertree has $7.8 billion in assets under management and will now operate as TPG Peppertree. As a result of the deal, across all platforms, TPG now manages $258 billion of assets under management. According to Private Equity International’s 2025 PEI 300 rankings, TPG is the fifth largest private equity firm in the world. The press release provides the following further details of the deal and statements from company officers:
With the completion of the transaction, TPG has added a differentiated investing strategy focused on wireless communications towers and related critical communications assets, delivering immediate scale in a core subset of the growing digital infrastructure sector. “With Peppertree’s proven communications infrastructure strategy, TPG has meaningfully expanded its presence in an attractive digital infrastructure category with strong secular tailwinds,” said Jon Winkelried, Chief Executive Officer of TPG. “This combination presents meaningful opportunities to leverage our combined capabilities and areas of expertise to deliver value for investors and shareholders.” “TPG’s leading alternatives platform and global scale position us well to identify and execute on opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving network infrastructure landscape,” said Howard Mandel and Ryan Lepene, Co-Managing Partners of TPG Peppertree. “We look forward to applying our combined expertise and intellectual capital to identify opportunities and accelerate growth through new and existing strategies.”
FCC Extends Pause Of Phase-Out Of Lifeline Support For Voice-Only Services & Increase In Lifeline Minimum Mobile Broadband Data Capacity
July 1, 2025 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has extended, for a year, the waiver pausing both the phase-out of Lifeline support for voice-only services and the increase in the Lifeline minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity.
If the Bureau had not extended the pause, support for services that meet only the voice minimum service standard ($5.25 per month) would be eliminated in most areas on December 1, 2025. Additionally, absent the pause, the minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity would rise from 4.5 GB to 29 GB per month beginning December 1, 2025.
The Bureau determined there is good cause to extend the pause for another year because without it, the minimum service standard for mobile broadband data capacity would have experienced its largest increase since Lifeline minimum service standards were established. The Bureau also determined that extending the pause will maintain Lifeline program stability and prevent disruption of communications for Lifeline subscribers as the FCC evaluates the record in its wide-ranging Delete, Delete, Delete deregulatory review proceeding. During the pause of the phase-out of support for voice-only services and the pause of the mobile data capacity increase, the FCC also will continue to consider future action regarding Lifeline voice-only service and setting minimum service standards.
FCC Adopts Wavier of July 1st FCC Form 481 Certification Deadline For Enhanced A-CAM Carriers
July 1, 2025 – The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, on its own motion, has adopted a limited waiver of the July 1, 2025 deadline to certify FCC Form 481 for carriers authorized to receive Enhanced A-CAM support. The Bureau determined that special circumstances warrant grant of a limited waiver of the July 1 deadline for Enhanced A-CAM carriers because certain certification requirements have not yet become effective for those carriers. The Bureau will announce the effective date of the requirements when they become effective, and will also set a new deadline for the FCC Form 481 certification. If they so desire, Enhanced A-CAM carriers may complete the FCC Form 481 certifications prior to the new deadline. Carriers that do not receive Enhanced A-CAM support must certify the required FCC Form 481 annual report by July 1, 2025.
