Photo of Drew Svor

Drew Svor

Subscribe to Drew Svor's Posts

Drew Svor is a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and serves as a member of the firm’s Telecom, Space & Satellite, CFIUS and AI Teams, as well as the D.C. office’s recruiting co-chair.

Contact:Read more about Drew Svor

Key Takeaways:  The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) sent a resounding message to the telecommunications industry: the era of lax CPNI enforcement is over.  

  • Mobile network operators (MNOs), mobile virtual network operators, Internet Service Providers, and Voice-Over-IP providers, and other operators subject to the FCC’s CPNI rules should be aware of the FCC’s expansive view on the kinds of data subject to the CPNI rules.

Continue Reading Dialing Up Accountability: FCC’s Warning Shot to Mobile Network Operators on CPNI

Key Takeaways: The Treasury Department is seeking to equip CFIUS with greater enforcement and oversight authority. These new powers include the ability to request more information from transaction parties and also to assess more significant penalties—in some cases, potentially greater than the transaction value—against companies who fail to comply with mandatory filing requirements or violate mitigation agreements.Continue Reading Treasury Department Proposes to Sharpen the Teeth of CFIUS Enforcement

As the battle for the future of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) continues on Capitol Hill, and the FCC prepares for the looming shutdown of the program, providers should be aware that the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau (“Enforcement Bureau”) continues to investigate—and issue forfeitures—related to noncompliance with program rules, particularly around subscriber onboarding and usage of the ACP benefit by consumers.Continue Reading Enforcement Advisory: The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau Continues to Closely Review Provider Compliance with Affordable Connective Program Rules

On November 20, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“Order”) adopting final rules to facilitate equal access to broadband and address digital discrimination.[1] This decision will be of particular importance to entities that provide, facilitate, or affect consumer access to broadband, including both terrestrial and satellite broadband providers irrespective of the technology used to deliver the broadband service. A Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”) accompanies the Order, seeking additional comment on matters pertaining to the implementation of section 60506 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[2] The final rules and FNPRM are summarized below:Continue Reading ALERT: FCC Seeks to Eliminate Digital Discrimination

On November 13, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a National Spectrum Strategy (the Strategy) and Presidential Memorandum on the modernization of U.S. spectrum policy. The Strategy, developed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in close coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other Executive Branch agencies, seeks to “guide decisions about how to allocate limited spectrum resources and ensure these decisions are made through a rigorous, transparent process.” The Strategy represents the Administration’s attempt to chart a “whole-of-Nation” approach to achieve national spectrum policy objectives.Continue Reading The Biden-Harris Administration Releases National Spectrum Strategy

On November 16, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a Report & Order (“Order”) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“FNPRM”), adopting measures to address two techniques bad actors frequently use to access victims’ cell phone accounts: (1) SIM swapping and (2) port-out fraud.Continue Reading Shutting Down the Cell Phone Scammers: The FCC Adopts Rules to Crack Down on Fraudulent Practices against Wireless Phone Users

Consistent with the White House’s Executive Order this week laying out a national policy on AI, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a draft Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) that would look into the implications of emerging Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) technologies on the Commission’s efforts to prevent unwanted and illegal calls and texts under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”).Continue Reading FCC Launches Inquiry into the Risks of AI on Unwanted Robocalls and Texts

Recently, the FCC reminded telecom providers that the cost of failing to protect their customers’ privacy is steep. In a July 28, 2023 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the Federal Communications Commission fined Q Link Wireless LLC and Hello Mobile Telecom LLC, an affiliate of Q Link, $20 million for impermissibly relying upon readily available biographical information and account information to authenticate online customers.[1]Continue Reading ALERT: The FCC Fines Companies $20 Million for Failing to Safeguard Customer Proprietary Network Information

UPDATE: Following recent approval from the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), the Commission has announced that January 22, 2024 will be the filing deadline of the one-time collection of foreign ownership information.

The FCC recently adopted two items that underscore the Commission’s growing role in a quickly evolving national security regulatory framework: an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking overhauling the regulatory framework for Section 214 authorization holders and applicants, as well as an “Enforcement Advisory” reminding operators of the risks of not disclosing certain transactions to the Commission.Continue Reading Don’t Look Twice, It’s Alright — The FCC Pulls Back the Curtain on Section 214 Authorizations

Last week, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a new regulatory framework to address the growing convergence of satellite and terrestrial-based networks, titled the “Single Network Future: Supplementary Coverage from Space” proceeding.Continue Reading FCC Takes the Lead on Satellite/Mobile Convergence in the Single Network Future Proceeding