Briefs

SpaceX to Host First Public Earnings Call on August 4

The company will hold a live audio-only call at 4:30 ET to discuss earnings after the market closes.

Social Media

French Lawmakers Approve a Sweeping Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

The bill also bans the use of mobile phones in high schools.

Andrea Bartz

Judge Approves a $1.5B Anthropic Settlement Over Books Used to Train Claude

The case began when bestselling novelist Andrea Bartz and two other authors filed the suit in 2024.

Policyband

Seafaring Cable Guy Lou Borrelli Sure Likes His Starlink Mini from Stem to Stern

The NCTC CEO, a sailor who relies on the Mini on the high seas, questioned broadband subsidies: ‘If we're all being brutally honest, does anybody think $7,500 a passing for BEAD money is a good idea?'

Wireless

Towers Worry Dish Bankruptcy Could Drain Escrow

Crown Castle objected to an intercompany loan

Spectrum

D.C. Circuit Upholds FCC Plan to Open More Public Safety Spectrum to FirstNet

The 3-0 decision said FirstNet could operate outside the 700 MHz band

Data Center

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Skip Over Data Center Moratorium Proposals and Tax Breaks

State lawmakers passed a bill requiring data centers to disclose energy and water usage

AI

Workers That Use AI are More Concerned it Will Take Over Jobs, Phoenix Center Finds

Heavy AI users are 10 percentage points more likely to worry about their own job than light users are

Spectrum

More Upper C-Band Lobbying Ahead of FCC Vote

The agency is set to vote tomorrow on rules for its auction in the band

Data Center

Florida GOP Lawmaker and Governor Candidate Says Data Center Bill Keeps Utility Costs Down

GOP candidate for governor aims to improve efficiency and relocate centers from populated areas.

Policyband

California Plan Proves BEAD Not a Taxpayer-Funded Sop to Starlink, Amazon LEO

California's BEAD plan approved by NTIA on July 17 cut the number of LEO locations by 47%, from 138,000 to 73,000 – more proof that LEOs will not walk off with the lion's share of BEAD billions

AI

Iowa House Republican Introduces Bill to Protect Kids from Chatbots Plying Sexual Content

The bill would ban deceptive AI personas and allow parental supervision of AI.

Texas

Charter to Let Go of 112 Spectrum Employees in Texas

The company has slated the layoff date for Sept. 8.

FCC

FCC Opens Review of Universal Service Administration, Questions USAC’s Future

The agency questions USAC’s processes, expenses, governance structure and long-term role as the Universal Service Fund’s administrator.

BEAD

California BEAD Plan Approved

The state’s LEO locations decreased by nearly half compared to its draft plan. Fiber and fixed wireless didn’t significantly change.

Satellite

SpaceX Announces Thirteenth Test Flight of Starship for This Thursday

The mega rocket will launch as early as July 23 to test its heat shield, engines, and satellite deployment capabilities.