Tribal broadband experts stressed during a Broadband Breakfast webinar Wednesday the importance of building networks that serve the community’s long-term interests rather than focusing on short-term profits. Panelists also highlighted the growing significance of fiber networks and data centers in advancing tribal digital sovereignty and economic development.

The FCC should “act to restore public trust in those who use public airwaves” in the wake of an ABC News journalist publicly criticizing President Donald Trump (see 2506090054), the Center for American Rights said Tuesday in a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr. ABC reportedly released correspondent Terry Moran after he described Trump as a "world-class hater" and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as one in a social media post.

Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan said he remains worried about what the U.S. Supreme Court will decide on the USF's constitutionality, though he also expressed optimism that the program will survive the Consumers' Research challenge (see 2504140039). Donovan spoke during a Free State Foundation webcast this week, hosted by former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly.

The House voted 213-207 Wednesday afternoon on rules for floor consideration of the 2025 Rescissions Act (HR-4) that don't allow consideration of a pair of Democratic amendments to strip out language clawing back $1.1 billion of CPB's advance funding for FY 2026 and FY 2027 (see 2506090036). House Rules Committee members sparred into Tuesday night over the proposed CPB rescission before the ruling on the Democratic amendments (see 2506100069).

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday that he's standing pat on the spectrum legislative language he released last week as part of the panel's portion of the GOP's planned budget reconciliation package, despite ongoing objections from some Armed Services Committee Republicans who agreed to the deal. Meanwhile, House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., told us Tuesday that he's willing to accept the Senate Commerce proposal’s language exempting the 7.4-8.4 GHz band from potential sale.

During oral argument Tuesday in federal court regarding consolidated challenges to the FTC's "click-to-cancel" rule, judges pressed the agency about its failure to conduct a preliminary regulatory analysis (PRA). NCTA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others petitioned the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the rule (see 2411220029), which is aimed at making it easier to cancel negative option contracts where consumers have to actively opt out of monthly subscriptions. The rule was adopted last year, and the compliance deadline is July 14 (see 2505120004).

Telecom carriers started by using AI for “customer care” and sales, but AI use is spreading to networks and other parts of companies, said Tim Hatt, GSMA's head of research and consulting, during an RCR Wireless telecom AI forum Tuesday. “A lot is happening,” he said. There are regional differences, “but really we are [in] a commercialization phase.”

The House Rules Committee was still considering Tuesday whether to allow floor votes on a pair of Democratic amendments to the 2025 Rescissions Act (HR-4) that would strip out its proposed clawback of $1.1 billion of CPB’s advance funding for FY 2026 and FY 2027 (see 2506090036). Panel Republicans and Democrats sparred over CPB funding during the hearing, reflecting growing GOP interest in revoking federal support for public broadcasters over claims that their content has a predominantly pro-Democratic bias (see 2503210040). Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told us he's still undecided about supporting a CPB funding rollback once the upper chamber considers HR-4.

Warner Bros. Discovery -- formed from Discovery's 2022 purchase of WarnerMedia -- will again become two companies, one focused on cable networks and the other on streaming. WBD announced the restructuring Monday, saying it should be done by mid-2026. The split comes after Comcast separated its cable networks and digital assets (see 2411200001) and Lionsgate separated its movie studio and TV businesses (see 2405140002). Analysts and others said WBD's move to two independent, publicly traded companies should have happened awhile ago.

EchoStar allies and critics fortified their positions in the FCC's twin EchoStar proceedings in docket 22-212 and 25-173 reply comments, which were due Friday. The replies covered much of the same turf as initial comments did. One side argued that EchoStar has sunk billions into its 5G network buildout, and FCC action could chill future investments by it and others, while the opposing side questioned the legality of longer buildout deadlines (see 2505280002).