The commercial space priorities of the White House's recent American space superiority executive order (see 2508140006) will help unleash American innovation in space, the National Space Society said last week. Those commercial priorities include attracting large investments in space, increasing launch and reentry cadence, and promoting spectrum leadership. The group said a strong commercial space sector "is the backbone of long‑term space development," and the order "recognizes the power of public‑private partnership to drive progress." NSS Policy Committee Chairman Grant Henriksen added that it "provides a bold, actionable roadmap for the U.S. to lead the next era of space development."
The White House's recent American space superiority executive order (see 2508140006) sets goals such as a greater launch and reentry cadence, signaling "a shift from aspirational policy to execution -- tying capital formation, operational scale, and national security together," Sheppard Mullin space lawyer Drew Svor wrote Monday on social media. While the order doesn't explicitly name the FCC, "the push to unlock investment and accelerate launch activity inevitably lands on satellite and spectrum licensing, with greater emphasis on speed, coordination, and national-security-aware authorizations," he said. It "represents an important shift in how the United States approaches space policy, investment, and security. For operators and investors, orbital security is now inseparable from licensing velocity, regulatory strategy, and U.S. competitiveness in space."
President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Aug. 13 aimed at deregulating the commercial space sector, which it said will help make American space launch companies more competitive. The order doesn't explicitly mention the loosening of export or trade restrictions, but it directs the Commerce and Transportation departments, along with other government offices, to create a "streamlined process for authorizing novel space activities (missions not clearly or straightforwardly governed by existing regulatory frameworks) with the goal of enabling American space competitiveness and superiority in new space-based industries."
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced Thursday he is filing a lawsuit against messaging platform Discord for deceptive and unlawful business practices that led to children on the platform being exposed to violent and sexual content as well as child predators.
New Hampshire amended a lawsuit against TikTok and alleged additional violations of the state’s consumer protection law, the state’s DOJ said Monday. The state first sued TikTok in June for allegedly prioritizing profits over app safety and misleading parents about the company’s ability to maintain a safe space for children. The amended complaint additionally claims that the company has profited from TikTok Live, a livestreaming feature that some allegedly employ to financially and sexually exploit young users. Attorney General John Formella (R) is asking the New Hampshire Superior Court in Merrimack for an injunction and monetary penalties (case 217-2024-CV-00399). Earlier this month, 14 other AGs filed similar lawsuits against TikTok in separate courts (see 2410080042). An additional eight states previously sued the company.
Despite contractual and other legal obligations, an ex-Apple software engineer “repeatedly flouted his promise to keep Apple’s information confidential,” alleged Apple's breach of contract complaint Monday (docket 24-cv-433319) in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Social media companies defended their platforms Thursday against allegations in New York City’s Wednesday public nuisance lawsuit (docket 24ST-cv-03643) blaming Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok for rising mental health issues among schoolchildren. The lawsuit was filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles.
Dish Wireless removed to U.S. District Court for Eastern California in Sacramento Monday a Dec. 22 complaint filed in Butte County Superior Court in which AT&T alleges Dish wrongfully disconnected the power at AT&T’s cell tower at a facility in Chico, California, and has been using AT&T's electrical meter to power its own tower on the same site.
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Verizon removed to U.S. District Court for Connecticut in New Haven a breach of contract complaint filed April 18 in Connecticut Superior Court by Cellular Solutions, a real estate firm that provides services to landlords that have rooftop leases with wireless telecommunications carriers, including Verizon. The Friday complaint alleges Verizon owes landlord Maxwell Realty more than $64,000 in municipal taxes for the space it’s leasing for wireless telecom equipment on a property in Bridgeport. Verizon’s lease obligated the carrier to reimburse Maxwell for the unpaid taxes within 15 days of being invoiced, yet Verizon has refused to pay since 2020, said the complaint. Cellular Solutions “has full assignment from Maxwell Realty” of all claims arising from the Verizon lease, including its refusal “to pay its tax reimbursement obligations,” it said. Verizon didn’t comment Monday.