National Law Review

Federal Communications Commission Commissioners Geoffrey Starks and Nathan Simington have each announced that they are departing from the FCC on Friday, June 6. Effective with their departures, the FCC will be down to only two commissioners. Until an additional commissioner is confirmed by the Senate, the FCC cannot take Commission-level actions. As a result, FCC Chairman Carr will temporarily be stymied in advancing his policy agenda, and the Commission will be unable to rule on major merger transactions.

On June 5, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed into law HB1221, subjecting rural electric cooperatives to pole attachment regulation by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) if they provide broadband service. Specifically, the law mandates that if an electric cooperative provides broadband service “directly, through an affiliate, or pursuant to an agreement with a third party,” or if the cooperative accepts state or federal funding to expand broadband service to unserved areas in Florida, then the cooperati

On March 10, Benton Senior Fellow and Public Advocate Gigi Sohn joined Womble Bond Dickinson’s Womble PRIDE, an affinity group for the firm’s LGBTQ+ team members and allies, and the National LGBT+ Bar Association for an in-depth look at how the Biden administration may reshape the communications landscape. Sohn discussed network neutrality under President Joe Biden, Section 230, and closing the digital divide.