Telecommunications

February 12, 2025
FCC Chief Says Comcast To Be Probed For Supporting DEI

The FCC's new leader is going after Comcast and NBCUniversal for their efforts to be diverse and inclusive, revealing Wednesday that he had directed the agency to open an investigation into the pair of companies to ensure they aren't "promoting invidious forms of discrimination."
February 12, 2025
Colo. Judge Tosses Online Fax Co.'s Junk Ad Suit

A Colorado federal judge dismissed an online fax service provider's Telephone Consumer Protection Act suit alleging a group of companies overwhelmed its system with "junk" faxes, finding in a Wednesday order that the law's prohibition specifically applies to a "machine" that receives and prints faxes.
February 12, 2025
Google Must Face Wiretapping Suit Over AI-Powered Assistant

A California federal judge has refused to toss a proposed class action accusing Google of using a "human-like" customer-service product powered by artificial intelligence to illegally eavesdrop on users' calls with Hulu, Verizon and others, finding the consumers adequately allege Google is a third party that can benefit from the data.
February 12, 2025
Meta User Antitrust Suit Gets Nov. 17 Trial Date

A California federal judge has set a Nov. 17 trial date for accusations that Meta monopolized the social media advertising market weeks after he declined to certify a class of Facebook users that would have numbered in the millions.
February 12, 2025
Ex-Ill. Speaker Madigan Guilty Of Bribery In Mixed Verdict

A federal jury on Wednesday partially convicted the man who was once the most powerful politician in Illinois on federal corruption charges, finding former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan guilty of bribery conspiracy and wire fraud but deadlocking on the government's overarching racketeering charge.
February 11, 2025
Trump Tells Agencies To Plan 'Large-Scale' Cuts With Musk

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that directs agencies to prepare for "large-scale" cuts to the federal workforce and gives Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency the authority to approve the future hiring of career officials.
February 11, 2025
Public Disclosure Shields US Cellular From Auction Fraud Suit

The D.C. Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court's dismissal of long-running False Claims Act accusations against USCellular over alleged spectrum auction fraud, ruling that the relators acting on behalf of the government in the lawsuit lacked new information to bring to the case.
February 11, 2025
FCC's Subsidy Fund Like 'Bureaucrat's Dream,' Justices Told

A free-market litigation group urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's fee system to support telecom subsidies, comparing the regime to an out-of-control IRS with unbridled taxing powers.
February 11, 2025
Patent Attys Can Be Liable For Fees Too, Justices Told

The tech and retail industries are endorsing an effort by Dish Network aiming to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to potentially expand the personal liability of lawyers who file failed patent cases that are found to be "exceptional" by the courts.
February 11, 2025
9th Circ. Doubts X Plaintiff Can Revive Phone Data Suit

A Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday questioned whether a lawsuit targeting social platform X could be revived and remanded to state court, with one judge suggesting circuit precedent established a privacy right that keeps the case in federal court, and another saying the lower court had "broad discretion" in deciding to dismiss the case.
February 11, 2025
End 'Cableopoly' Over Broadband Consumers, 5G Groups Say

Mobile industry groups formed a coalition this week to combat what they say are cable industry tactics meant to keep wireless companies from amassing enough spectrum to fully compete in and bring newer services to the home broadband market.
February 11, 2025
HPE Says Juniper Deal Is Needed To Compete With Top Players

Hewlett Packard said it was blindsided by the U.S. Department of Justice's move to block its $14 billion purchase of Juniper Networks, saying in a new filing that the Antitrust Division lawsuit brought last month will only benefit the biggest player in the market, Cisco, and Chinese competitor Huawei.
February 11, 2025
DC Circ. Won't Pause Google Search Case For Apple Appeal

The D.C. Circuit refused to pause the government's search monopolization case against Google while Apple appeals a ruling that denied its bid to participate in a coming April trial meant to determine what remedies to impose on Google for violating antitrust law.
February 11, 2025
BT Fends Off Customers' Bid To Revive £1.3B Class Action

A group of BT landline customers have failed to revive a £1.3 billion ($2 billion) class action against the telecom giant, after a competition tribunal refused Tuesday to allow an appeal against the first substantive ruling deciding a U.K. collective proceedings order claim.
February 10, 2025
Xcel, Telecom Cos. Say Colo. Fire Plaintiffs Can't Opt Out Of Trial

Xcel Energy and two telecom companies being sued over the Marshall Fire in Colorado told a state judge that hundreds of plaintiffs pushing to opt out of a common liability trial should not be able to do so, at least until expert reports are shared.
February 10, 2025
GOP Sens. Restart Effort To Get Lawmaker OK For Major Regs

It could become tougher for the Federal Communications Commission to adopt new rules for the telecom industry under a bill Republicans have reintroduced that would require a congressional green light for major new regulations.
February 10, 2025
Apple Urges 9th Circ. Not To Revive Web App Antitrust Suit

Apple asked the Ninth Circuit on Friday to affirm a lower court's dismissal of a case from iPhone buyers accusing it of violating antitrust law by preventing iPhones from running web-based apps, saying the suit alleges a "highly indirect and speculative" harm that's not even an antitrust injury.
February 10, 2025
9th Circ. Affirms Officers' Immunity For Getting Phone Contents

The Ninth Circuit on Monday upheld a summary judgment win for a sheriff and county prosecutor accused of illegally obtaining the contents of a drug arrestee's phone, ruling that they unlawfully got copies of the phone's contents but that the prosecutor who requested them was entitled to qualified immunity.
February 10, 2025
FTC Can't Get Cap On Meta's Up To 86 Antitrust Trial Witnesses

A D.C. federal judge refused Monday to limit the number of witnesses in the Federal Trade Commission's monopolization lawsuit against Meta Platforms, rejecting agency assertions that plans by the Facebook parent company for up to 86 witnesses are "unreasonable."
February 10, 2025
Apple Says Child Porn Detection Suit Can't Stand

Victims of child sexual abuse materials can't bring a proposed class action accusing Apple of spreading the videos and images, the tech giant has told a California federal court, arguing the company is protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
February 10, 2025
'Noxious' Anti-Qualcomm Media Blitz Won't Be Blocked

A Florida federal judge said Friday he won't tell a company that used to make automated video cameras to stop its Glenn Beck-aided media blitz connecting its patent campaign against Qualcomm Inc. to conspiracy theories involving former President Barack Obama, "regardless of how noxious it may be."
February 10, 2025
Apple Pushes DC Circ. To Pause Google Search Case

Apple told the D.C. Circuit on Monday it did not become clear that it needs to intervene in the government's search monopolization case against Google until enforcers proposed remedies that affected Apple's conduct too.
February 10, 2025
FCC Ready To Lower The 'Boom' On Raucous Commercials

The nation's telecommunications regulator will consider this month whether new rules are needed to cut the volume on blaring commercials that upset the relative calm of TV shows they accompany, according to a recent notice of proposed rulemaking.
February 10, 2025
Prison Phone Co. Tells FCC Rate Cap Rules Cost Too Much

Prison phone company NCIC Correctional Services thinks the Federal Communications Commission messed up by preempting state and local laws to ban "site commissions," service provider-to-prison payments that critics call kickbacks.
February 10, 2025
Bird Shelter Settles 2nd Nuisance Calls Suit With UnitedHealth

UnitedHealth Group Inc. has settled a proposed class action brought by a North Carolina bird refuge over nuisance calls the health insurer allegedly made to consumers even after it demanded the calls stop, according to a court order pausing the case.

Expert Analysis

Series

Coaching Little League Makes Me A Better Lawyer

While coaching poorly played Little League Baseball early in the morning doesn't sound like a good time, I love it — and the experience has taught me valuable lessons about imperfection, compassion and acceptance that have helped me grow as a person and as a lawyer, says Alex Barnett at DiCello Levitt.
5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2025

Lawyers and their clients must be prepared to navigate an evolving litigation funding market in 2025, made more complicated by a new administration and the increasing overall cost of litigation, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
Managing Litigation Side-Switching During 2nd Trump Admin

Now that the new presidential administration is in place, the government will likely switch positions in a number of pending cases, and stakeholders should employ strategies to protect their interests, say attorneys at Covington.
3 Noteworthy Effects Of The 2025 NDAA

The 2025 defense budget includes further restrictions on semiconductor sales to Huawei, requiring companies to rethink customer-base oversight, but other provisions are likely to broaden procurement contract opportunities, say attorneys at Miles & Stockbridge.
Rethinking Litigation Risk And What It Really Means To Win

Attorneys have a tendency to overestimate litigation risk before summary judgment and underestimate risk after it, but an eight-stage litigation framework can clarify risk at different points and help litigators reassess what true success looks like in any particular case, says Joshua Libling at Arcadia Finance.
How DOGE's Bite Can Live Up To Its Bark

All signs suggest that the Department of Government Efficiency will be an important part of the new Trump administration, with ample tools at its disposal to effectuate change, particularly with an attentive Republican-controlled Congress, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
5 Notable Information Security Events In 2024

B. Stephanie Siegmann at Hinckley Allen discusses 2024's largest and most destructive data breaches seen yet, ranging from ransomware disrupting U.S. healthcare systems on a massive scale, to tensions increasing between the U.S. and China over cyberespionage and the control of U.S. data.
Series

Playing Rugby Makes Me A Better Lawyer

My experience playing rugby, including a near-fatal accident, has influenced my legal practice on a professional, organizational and personal level by showing me the importance of maintaining empathy, fostering team empowerment and embracing the art of preparation, says James Gillenwater at Greenberg Traurig.
Opinion

No, Litigation Funders Are Not 'Fleeing' The District Of Del.

A recent study claimed that litigation funders have “fled” Delaware federal court due to a standing order requiring disclosure of third-party financing, but responsible funders have no problem litigating in this jurisdiction, and many other factors could explain the decline in filings, say Will Freeman and Sarah Tsou at Omni Bridgeway.
5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2025 And Beyond

In the year to come, e-discovery will be shaped by new and emerging trends, from the adoption of artificial intelligence provisions in protective orders, to the proliferation of emojis as a source of evidence in contemporary litigation, say attorneys at Littler.
What To Expect From Federal Cybersecurity Policy In 2025

There are 12 cyber policy questions to keep an eye on as the new administration and Republican control of Congress present an opportunity to advance less regulatory approaches and revisit some choices from the prior administration, say attorneys at Wiley.
4 Trade Secret Developments To Follow This Year

Significant developments in trade secret law are likely in 2025, and areas to watch include protection of AI-related innovations, the fate of the Federal Trade Commission's noncompete ban, and questions of the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act's extraterritorial reach, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.
Republican Trifecta Amplifies Risks For Cos. In 3 Key Areas

Expected coordination between a Republican Congress and presidential administration may expose companies to simultaneous criminal, civil and congressional investigations, particularly with regard to supply chain risks in certain industries, government contracting and cross-border investment, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
How Decline Of Deference Will Affect Trump Policymaking

An administrative law regime without Chevron deference may limit the Trump administration’s ability to implement new policies in the short term, but ultimately help it in the long term, and all parties with an interest in regulatory changes will have to take a fresh approach to litigation, say attorneys at Covington.
7 Ways 2nd Trump Administration May Affect Partner Hiring

President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely have a number of downstream effects on partner hiring in the legal industry, from accelerated hiring timelines to increased vetting of prospective employees, say recruiters at Macrae.