United States: Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment

The FCC has granted waivers allowing broadband providers to make limited hardware changes to previously authorized routers now on the Covered List, addressing critical component shortages and supply chain disruptions.

The FCC received extensive industry feedback on its proposed equipment authorization and Covered List rules, with manufacturers, technology companies, and trade associations pushing back against broad regulatory requirements. Commenters generally support supply chain protection but seek narrower rules with a stronger connection between regulatory burdens and actual security risks, particularly regarding bills of materials requirements, certification mandates, and equipment authorization expiration.

Affordability remains front and center at the FTC. This month, the agency turned its attention to healthcare and gas costs. It also issued detailed guidance on price transparency for auto dealers that marketers in any industry might want to heed: the advertised price “must be the actual price that any consumer can walk in and pay,” with only government fees excluded. The FTC continues to consider how to combat scams and is seeking public comment on whether online platforms should help stop scammers who use those platforms to impersonate third parties by, for example, requiring the removal of confirmed impersonation scam ads.