The Federal Communications Commission voted to begin a process to formalize the identification of entities holding licenses and authorizations in the communications sector that are controlled by a foreign adversary both at present and on a rolling basis going forward. The U.S. Government has long recognized that foreign adversaries have been engaged in a widespread and coordinated effort to exploit, attack, and otherwise compromise the integrity of U.S. communications networks.  Acting to counter these threats, the FCC has spearheaded a number of initiatives including creating the Covered List of equipment and services that pose unacceptable risks to national security and revoking foreign adversary authorizations.  This latest proposed effort of certification and information collection requirements would give the FCC a new and comprehensive view of threats from foreign adversaries by identifying entities holding licenses and authorizations in the communications sector that are subject to the ownership, jurisdiction, direction, and control of a foreign adversary.  

In mid-May, the Trump Administration, through U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), terminated the Digital Equity Capacity Program. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) was in the process of implementing a Digital Equity Capacity Grant under this Program. This grant would have provided more than $23.7 million to Illinois organizations across the state to equip households and residents with the skills, resources, and tools needed to use high-speed internet and fully participate in Illinois' economy. DCEO and its partners from across the state have been preparing to implement this program since the passage of the Digital Equity Act in 2021. This includes the development of the Illinois State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP), which was informed by the input of over 1,250 Illinoisans at more than 50 sessions across a statewide listening tour, and includes goals and initiatives to close the digital divide in Illinois. Based on findings from an Illinois-wide internet use phone survey, at least 1.3 million residents across approximately 540,000 households have low digital literacy skills, meaning they do not feel confident using the internet to complete at least one of the basic tasks included in the survey, such as creating a resume. There is a demonstrated need for this program throughout Illinois as proven by responses and testimonials heard during the listening tour, from internet and phone surveys, and through local and regional partners, many of which can be found in the SDEP.

The Federal Trade Commission opened an investigation into Media Matters, a liberal advocacy organization that has published research on hateful and antisemitic content on X, according to two people familiar with the inquiry. The regulator said in a letter sent to the organization that it was investigating the group, which is aligned with Democrats, over whether it illegally colluded with advertisers. Elon Musk, who owns X and has become a close adviser to President Trump, sued Media Matters in 2023 over claims that it tried to damage the social media platform’s relationship with advertisers. That lawsuit continues. The investigation is the latest example of the Trump administration’s taking actions against individuals and organizations that play critical roles in the infrastructure of the political left.