At the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Open Meeting in late October, the agency unanimously adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to end certain legacy interconnection obligations of Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) to accelerate the transition to all Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

Currently, certain LECs are required to…

Continue Reading FCC Proposes Rule Changes to Accelerate Transition to IP Networks

On October 30, 2025, California Attorney General Bonta announced a $530,000 settlement related to allegations that Sling TV, an internet-based live TV service, violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and the California Unfair Competition Law. This is the first enforcement action arising from the California Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) investigative sweep of streaming services and connected TVs, which was announced in January 2024.Continue Reading California Attorney General Announces $530,000 CCPA Settlement with Sling TV

Massachusetts aims to be the “cornerstone of the defense industry,” with Governor Maura Healey announcing nearly $47 million in government funding for defense-related projects.  Last year, the Department of Defense ranked Massachusetts ninth out of the top ten states in total Defense spending in FY2023, and the state is aiming…

Continue Reading Massachusetts Seeks to Expand Defense Footprint with Nearly $47 Million in New Projects

Last week, the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (“GPEN”)—a global network of over 30 national data protection authorities—announced the launch of its annual privacy sweep. The purpose of the sweep is to examine how websites and mobile applications commonly used by children handle minors’ personal information. Members of GPEN include regulators who have long prioritized protections for children and teens, such as the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the California Attorney General, the California Privacy Protection Agency, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, the French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (“CNIL”), and the Irish Data Protection Commission.Continue Reading Global Privacy Regulators Launch Enforcement Sweep Focused on Children’s Data Protection

It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of wrongdoing, and it falls to you to lead the response.…

Continue Reading Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff

On October 29, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released its Second Report and Order (the “R&O”) and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) concerning changes to its equipment authorization rules.  The R&O and FNPRM continue the FCC’s ongoing efforts to update the agency’s equipment authorization rules to “protect…

Continue Reading FCC Modifies Equipment Authorization Rules to Address National Security Concerns

On October 31, 2025, the Ninth Circuit struck down certain parts of USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, including the exemption for highly refined foods in which modified genetic material is undetectable. The decision remands the invalidated portions of the regulations to USDA for revision and could result in a…

Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Invalidates USDA’s Exemption for Highly Refined Foods Under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard

On November 6, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and MAHA Caucus, introduced the highly anticipated “Better Food Disclosure Act” (the “Better FDA Act”). The bill aims to close the so-called “GRAS loophole.” Although the bill, which was developed…

Continue Reading Senator Marshall Proposes an Overhaul of the GRAS Framework

Now that the final Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program and Procurement Rules have been issued by the Department of War (DoW) (see our CMMC Toolkit for in-depth analysis of these Rules) and the CMMC Program is set to begin in earnest, there is some uncertainty in industry as to…

Continue Reading How Will DoW Determine Which Level of CMMC Applies to My Agreement?

If you are the general counsel of a Fortune 500 company, you might be excused if you express bewilderment in response to reports about the successes of U.S. “tort reform.” In the past 5-8 years, both the plaintiffs’ bar and governmental authorities seem to have added an extra digit to…

Continue Reading Dealing with an Extra Digit: Latest Developments in Excess Liability Insurance Coverage and “Bermuda Form” Arbitrations for Catastrophic Exposures