Standards bodies and regulators quietly decide what becomes mandatory long before it reaches a press release. This category follows DRM and anti-piracy enforcement, codec licensing and patent pools, AI training-data copyright, and net neutrality and privacy rules shaping the industry.
Rohde & Schwarz and Qualcomm have completed the first verification of the 3GPP Release 17 Search Space Set Group Switching (SSSG) conformance test case. This milestone supports the transition of 5G power-saving features from standardization to commercial deployment and provides feedback to 3GPP RAN5.
Sisvel has published royalty rates and a FRAND analysis for its Point-of-Sale (POS) patent pool, which covers cellular-enabled hardware. The program, which includes licensors such as Huawei, LG Electronics, and Nokia, sets royalty tiers ranging from €1.20 to €8.00 per device.
The International Center for Law & Economics has filed comments with the FCC advocating for the phase-out of $1.6 billion in annual legacy broadband subsidies, including CAF BLS and HCLS. The organization argues that these programs are now redundant due to the expansion of LEO satellite services and the BEAD program, and that they impose unnecessary costs on consumers through high surcharges.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has appointed Hunter Deeley as the new Chief of the Enforcement Bureau, replacing Patrick Webre. Deeley’s background in national security and foreign investment review signals a potential shift in the FCC's enforcement priorities toward equipment security and foreign ownership oversight.
The European Commission is drafting new public procurement rules that aim to prioritize quality over price for €2.6 trillion in annual spending. The proposal seeks to address concerns regarding digital sovereignty and tax avoidance by major non-EU technology firms, potentially impacting how public bodies contract for cloud and AI services.
A new policy paper by Kai Zenner and Maria Koomen proposes the creation of a centralized Digital Enforcement Agency to streamline the oversight of EU digital laws. The authors argue that the current fragmented regulatory structure hinders the effective enforcement of major frameworks like the AI Act, DSA, and DMA.
The Singaporean government plans to introduce legislation in 2025 requiring social media platforms to implement youth-focused safeguards, such as default-off autoplay and daily time limits. Platforms that fail to comply with these requirements face the potential penalty of having their minimum access age raised to 18.
Bill Gates advocates for a global regulatory framework and a tax on AI tokens and robots to manage the economic and social transition caused by AI. He warns that rapid AI adoption will significantly disrupt labor markets, including software engineering and customer service, and calls for proactive policy intervention to protect displaced workers.
The FTC and 22 U.S. states have filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company manipulated its advertising auction system to overcharge advertisers by billions of dollars. The litigation targets Amazon's high-margin advertising operations, potentially impacting the revenue streams used to fund the company's broader infrastructure and AI investments.
Poland has formally requested that the European Commission impose a 250 million euro fine on Meta for failing to remove fraudulent advertisements identified by CERT Polska. The complaint highlights systemic issues with deceptive advertising and fake creator accounts on Meta's platforms, potentially violating EU misleading-advertising regulations.
President Donald Trump has proposed a bipartisan federal production tax credit of 15% to 20% for labor costs to incentivize film and television production within the United States. The initiative aims to repatriate production work currently moving to international markets like Canada and has received support from the Motion Picture Association and some congressional leaders.
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is lobbying Congress to reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and FirstNet. The organization is also advocating for the preservation of state-level authority regarding artificial intelligence governance to prevent federal preemption.
Senator Tammy Baldwin has introduced the For The Fans Act, which seeks to mandate free local viewing options for professional sports and eliminate regional blackouts. The legislation, alongside a House Judiciary Committee report, challenges the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act's antitrust exemption as streaming rights fragmentation increases costs for consumers and businesses.
The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) has formally declined a request from ITU-T Study Group 17 to implement top-down standardization for AI agents. The IAB reaffirmed that technical development for AI identity and authentication must continue through the IETF's established bottom-up, consensus-based working group processes.
The EU AI Act introduces dynamic accountability mechanisms where deployers of high-risk AI systems can be reclassified as providers if they perform substantial modifications or white-labeling. This shift triggers immediate, non-delegable compliance obligations, including conformity assessments and technical documentation, regardless of the original provider's status.
The DVB Project has released the September 2026 issue of DVB Scene, highlighting the upcoming nationwide launch of DVB-I services in New Zealand. The issue also covers technical advancements in filecasting, Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI), and the integration of MAUD with DVB-MABR.
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that it holds jurisdiction to determine FRAND licensing rates for InterDigital's Avanci 5G platform, allowing Tesla's legal challenge to proceed. Additionally, the UPC Düsseldorf Local Division ruled that Disney infringed an InterDigital HEVC-related patent after failing to engage in FRAND negotiations due to an NDA dispute.
SES demonstrated the DVB-NIP standard at SET Expo 2026, showcasing an IP-native satellite transmission technology designed to deliver content across multiple household screens. The demonstration highlights a hybrid distribution model intended to combine satellite's reach with the flexibility of on-demand streaming to support addressable advertising.
NIST's Public Safety Communications Research Division is advancing interoperability standards through 3GPP Release 20, focusing on mission-critical video and voice services for first responders. The agency is collaborating with Qualcomm on Sidelink D2D technology and has launched a new Z-Axis facility to improve indoor mapping and real-time AI data annotation for emergency personnel.
ICANN has scheduled its 87th Public Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, for October 2026, with a focus on the 2026 New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program and DNS abuse. The event will serve as a key forum for discussing the implementation of the 1,600+ applications received during the recent gTLD application window.
Rep. Michael Rulli has introduced the GRANITE Act, a bill designed to prevent U.S. courts from enforcing foreign censorship judgments or fines against domestic companies. The legislation aims to protect U.S. digital sovereignty as international regulators, such as the U.K.'s Ofcom, increasingly target American platforms under foreign online safety laws.
UK Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza is threatening to use statutory powers to access tech companies' risk assessments after Ofcom denied her request. The dispute centers on the transparency and efficacy of platform safeguards mandated by the Online Safety Act 2023.
UK authorities and the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) have dismantled a large-scale illegal IPTV operation, resulting in the seizure of 80 servers and a 6.5-year prison sentence for the operator. The action targeted unauthorized distribution of premium content, including Sky TV and Premier League broadcasts.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated FCC Media Bureau guidance that granted favorable lowest unit charge rates to coordinated political party expenditures. The ruling also establishes that bureau-level FCC actions may be considered final and ripe for judicial review, potentially impacting future litigation strategies for broadcasters and media companies.
Former House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers is opposing proposals to fund the FCC's Universal Service Fund through new taxes on broadband services. The debate follows an ongoing FCC review of the program's oversight and concerns that such taxes could increase consumer internet bills by up to $18 per month.
A SAS-commissioned study of 100 technology decision-makers found that while 77% of UK and Irish enterprises have generative AI policies, only 12% have established comprehensive governance frameworks. This lack of operational oversight poses significant regulatory risks for streaming firms as EU AI Act transparency and compliance deadlines approach.
The Trump administration is preparing a Section 301 investigation to potentially impose tariffs on the European Union in retaliation for Digital Markets Act fines levied against US technology companies. While the UK has implemented similar digital competition regulations, reports indicate the country is currently excluded from the planned investigation.
Mozilla has integrated a WebKit-based ad blocker into its iOS browser, highlighting the ongoing challenges of browser engine competition under the EU's Digital Markets Act. Despite regulatory requirements for Apple to open its platform, the lack of alternative browser engines on iOS continues to impact browser development and feature parity.
Meta Platforms has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 47 U.S. states to resolve allegations that its platforms were designed to be addictive to children. The settlement mandates significant product changes, including default daily time limits and night-mode restrictions, setting a new legal precedent for algorithmic design and child safety in the technology industry.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has filed comments with the FCC supporting the transition to software-based Emergency Alert System (EAS) models to improve resiliency and integration. However, the association opposes the FCC's proposal to shorten the mandatory repair window for defective software from 60 days to 72 hours, citing implementation uncertainties.
The FCC has voted 3-2 to approve a Report and Order granting broadcasters increased flexibility to utilize their licensed spectrum for 5G-based datacasting services. This regulatory change is intended to support the transition to the ATSC 3.0 standard and enable broadcasters to compete more effectively in mobile data and video delivery markets.
House Democrats have introduced the NO PROFIT Act, which seeks to prohibit social media companies from selling subscription-based, prioritized access to government accounts. The legislation is a direct response to the Truth API, which offers paid, early access to market-moving posts from influential accounts including the President.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has updated its statutes to formalize its role in coordinating ICT and broadcasting standards. This framework governs how ETSI collaborates with CEN, CENELEC, and the EBU to maintain technical standards for European telecommunications and multimedia services.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has appointed Hunter Deeley as the new Chief of the Enforcement Bureau, succeeding Patrick Webre. Deeley, who previously served as the bureau's Chief of Staff, will oversee enforcement of the Communications Act, including matters related to national security and telecommunications fraud.
SpaceX has petitioned the FCC to block or impose strict conditions on Viasat's proposed satellite deployment, citing concerns over harmful electromagnetic interference with the Starlink constellation. The dispute centers on the application of Equivalent Power Flux-Density (EPFD) limits and the technical coordination of Ku- and Ka-band spectrum usage.
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have filed a federal lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging the company used copyrighted music to train its Claude chatbot without authorization. The publishers are seeking statutory damages and an injunction, challenging Anthropic's fair use defense regarding generative AI training data.
VeroNex VERLAG GmbH has submitted the EU2122 content standard to the IETF to define mandatory fields for AI output verification receipts. The specification is designed to provide a standardized framework for compliance with the EU AI Act and the Product Liability Directive.
This article outlines the legal complexities of AI ownership, copyright, and patent eligibility for technology providers and customers. It provides a framework for drafting commercial agreements to address IP allocation, training data rights, and compliance with emerging state and international AI regulations.
Industry analyst Dean Bubley critiques major US mobile carriers for lobbying against shared spectrum like CBRS while failing to fully utilize their own licensed spectrum for rural 5G deployment. The article questions the industry's pivot to satellite direct-to-device technology as a primary solution for rural coverage gaps instead of terrestrial infrastructure innovation.
The European Broadcasting Union reports that while radio maintains high weekly reach in Europe, listening habits are shifting toward digital platforms and video podcasts. The organization is advocating for the Digital Networks Act to ensure public service audio remains discoverable and prominent within software-defined vehicle dashboards.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces significant regulatory challenges, including the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act against major tech companies. These efforts, alongside potential social media restrictions for children, represent a critical shift in the EU's strategy for managing digital sovereignty and Big Tech competition.
Canadian author Paris Marx and policy researchers are advocating for increased digital sovereignty in Canada following a U.S. government-led renaming of Lake Ontario on digital maps. The discussion highlights Canada's heavy reliance on U.S.-based hyperscalers for cloud infrastructure and calls for government investment in domestic technology alternatives.
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority reports that 43% of influencer content lacks proper ad disclosure, leading regulators to implement automated AI monitoring and potential fines of up to 10% of global turnover. New mandates are also being prepared to address disclosure requirements for AI-generated imagery and personas in promotional content.
The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine, while Reddit and Roblox have been classified as Very Large Online Platforms under the Digital Services Act. These entities must now comply with enhanced oversight, including systemic risk assessments and independent audits, by January 2027.
The Federal Trade Commission is reportedly investigating whether YouTube's content moderation practices, including the removal or demotion of user content, violate its own stated policies. While the agency is considering a potential lawsuit, internal staff have expressed disagreement, and the platform would likely invoke First Amendment protections in any legal challenge.
A federal judge has denied Google's request to vacate a $425 million jury verdict regarding the unauthorized collection of analytics data via Firebase. The ruling reinforces that collecting de-identified data can be considered highly offensive when it contradicts explicit privacy promises made to users.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court ruling, allowing NetChoice to proceed with its legal challenge against Tennessee's Protecting Children from Social Media Act. The law, which mandates age verification and parental consent for minors, will now face further scrutiny regarding its constitutionality and potential for irreparable harm to tech platforms.
The U.S. government is developing new regulations to prevent Chinese AI companies from bypassing export controls by remotely accessing advanced Nvidia chips via overseas data centers. This initiative follows reports of illicit diversion schemes and aims to address the challenge of regulating computing power as a service rather than a physical product.
The 2026 SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Agreement establishes new regulatory frameworks for the use of digital replicas and synthetic performers in media production. The agreement mandates informed consent and compensation for digital likenesses while restricting the use of entirely AI-generated characters to exceptional, bargained cases.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering multiple bills that would allow local municipalities to impose 18-month moratoriums on hyperscale data center construction and repeal existing equipment sales tax exemptions. These legislative efforts aim to address concerns regarding grid stability, energy costs, and water usage, potentially impacting the regional infrastructure landscape for streaming providers.
