Advanced Television

Federal Communications Commission

FCC plans ‘Space Assembly Line’

FCC chairman Brendan Carr is not everyone’s favourite legislator, but his latest proposal looks like winning favourable support from the industry. He wants to create a ‘Space Assembly Line’ in order to ‘fast track’ applications and to demolish barriers to entry for the space and satellite sector. However, good as this idea is, he also […]

October 8, 2025By Chris Forrester

Academic calls for FCC disbandment

Mark Jamison, Non-resident Senior Fellow at public policy think tank The American Enterprise Institute, has suggested it is time to disband the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that it has “run its course”, having become “a convenient political tool”. Writing in the AEIdeas blog, he suggests that current FCC Chairman Brendan Carr now has the […]

October 3, 2025By Colin Mann

FCC boost for Next Gen TV

The US’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken additional actions to accelerate broadcasters’ transition to the next-generation television standard, known as ATSC 3.0, by providing regulatory clarifications that can encourage the expeditious transition to this new standard and the benefits this transition can unlock for TV viewers across the country. This action reflects the Commission’s […]

September 3, 2025By Colin Mann

FCC’S Gomez speaks out against digital divide roll back

FCC Commissioner Anna M Gomez has spoken out after the FCC launched a proceeding that she suggests may roll back progress made to close the digital divide as part of the agency’s Section 706 annual reporting. In a statement, she said: “While I have concerns over the potential change of direction this FCC may soon […]

August 7, 2025By Colin Mann

FCC approves Intelsat sale to SES

July 11th saw the clearest indication that the long wait for SES to receive its permissions to acquire rival Intelsat is coming to an end, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) giving its approval to the transfer “of the control of licenses from Intelsat to SES”. This, in effect, ends the FCC’s oversight of the […]

July 14, 2025By Chris Forrester

FCC spectrum boost for satellite broadband

The Federal Communications Commission is aggressively pursuing spectrum abundance as part of its Final Frontiers agenda to secure US leadership in space and supercharge the possibilities of satellite broadband. The Commission voted May 22nd to kickstart a proceeding that could unlock more than 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for high-speed Internet delivered from space.  That amount […]

May 23, 2025By Colin Mann and Chris Forrester

AT&T plans satellite connectivity trials

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile, in coordination with AT&T, the ability to test direct-to-cellular connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum via its BlueBird satellites orbiting Earth. With this approval, it is envisioned that select first responders on FirstNet, Built with AT&T will trial public-safety-grade satellite communications later in 2025. AT&T […]

April 17, 2025

Carr named FCC Chairman

US President Donald Trump has signed an order that designates Commissioner Brendan Carr as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. In a Statement, Carr said: “I am deeply grateful to President Trump and honoured by his decision to designate me as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. I have had the privilege of working at […]

January 21, 2025By Colin Mann

FCC’s Rosenworcel announces departure

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced that she intends to depart the FCC on January 20th 2025. Her decision follows the announcement by President-elect Donald Trump that he intends to nominate Brendan Carr to the role when he takes office. “Serving at the Federal Communications Commission has been the honour of a […]

November 21, 2024By Colin Mann

FCC’s Rosenworcel speaks out on broadcast licence threats

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has spoken out following repeated calls by former President Trump to revoke the licences of broadcast stations for political reasons. “While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored,” she stated.” “As […]

October 11, 2024By Colin Mann