The FCC’s top telecom priorities include the components of Chairman Brendan Carr’s “Build America Agenda,” stabilizing USF and deregulation, agency Chief of Staff Scott Delacourt said. NTIA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Adam Cassady said finishing BEAD "is job one," but other tasks include space policy revisions and identifying spectrum for commercialization. The two spoke Monday at Technology Policy Institute’s annual Aspen Forum.

Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.

The Hearing Loss Association of America and other groups representing deaf and hard-of-hearing people warned the FCC that a temporary waiver allowing use of the interim volume-control testing method for hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) compliance could create problems for some consumers. In filings last month, industry groups supported extending the waiver, while consumer groups said it should be renewed for not more than a year (see 2507210008).

Consumers’ Research and its allies objected Friday to the proposed USF contribution factor for Q4, citing unanswered questions from the group’s unsuccessful challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court in late June. The factor is projected to increase from 36% in Q3 to 39.3% in Q4, based on the latest projections from the Universal Service Administrative Co. (see 2508040049).

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at Dish Network must end, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said Thursday. Speaking with reporters at the agency's August meeting, Carr said he has "been very clear to regulated entities that they should be ending their own promotion of invidious forms of DEI discrimination." Advocacy group Consumers' Research has criticized Dish for alleged DEI policies (see 2507240042) and this week urged Carr and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate. Noting FCC investigations regarding DEI activity at Comcast and Verizon (see 2503280038), Carr said such engagement "has proven to be successful in making sure they're complying" with the agency's equal opportunity policies. "So whether it's Dish or anyone else, we would expect them to come to compliance with the FCC's approach." Dish parent EchoStar didn't comment.

Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.

The recently relaunched bipartisan congressional working group studying a USF legislative revamp is seeking a new round of stakeholder comments about how to proceed and has opened a portal for submissions, Senate Communications Subcommittee Chair Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said Friday. Meanwhile, the Digital Progress Institute said in a white paper Thursday that USF's current contribution mechanism is “unsustainable” and “horrendously inefficient.”

Scripps names Sandy Padula, formerly WarnerMedia, vice president, head of enterprise research and consumer insights, a newly created position … Cloud communications provider Fusion Connect promotes Elizabeth Schneider to vice president of partner channel sales … Wireless power solutions firm GuRu Wireless adds Douglas Blake, Reliance Test and Technology, to its advisory board.

Communications Daily is tracking the lawsuits below involving appeals of FCC actions.

A mobile billboard truck condemning Dish Network as being “woke” was parked near FCC headquarters Thursday morning in the hours before the agency’s open meeting. Conservative group Consumers’ Research was labeled as the billboard’s sponsor. “Woke Alert. Dish Network is Pushing a Woke Agenda while Asking Conservatives for Favors,” the sign read, directing readers to WokeDishNetwork.com. The URL goes to a page on Consumers’ Research’s website, where it condemns Dish for the company’s diversity policies and CEO Charlie Ergen’s donations to Democratic Party campaigns. The FCC is currently investigating Dish’s parent company EchoStar over its use of spectrum and failure to fulfill buildout promises to the agency. In June, President Donald Trump reportedly interceded with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on Ergen’s behalf (see 2506160039). Asked about the investigation Thursday, Carr said he “is still open-minded on a path forward” but the status quo is “unacceptable.” Dish is “sitting on” a “tremendous amount of spectrum” that isn’t being effectively utilized, Carr said. Consumers’ Research is known for litigating for conservative causes and has repeatedly challenged the legality of the FCC’s USF fund. The organization doesn’t disclose its donors, but DonorsTrust in 2022 named Consumers’ Research as among recipients of its grants totaling $242 million. DonorsTrust is a donor-advised funding provider that supports conservative groups. “We share your commitment to protecting our nation’s constitutional liberties and strengthening civil society through private institutions rather than with government programs,” said its website.