T-Mobile on Wednesday became the last of the three major wireless carriers to report Q2 results, announcing it added 777,000 net postpaid phone subscribers and 406,000 fixed wireless subscribers. However, it warned of a financial hit of up to $450 million this year from the shuttering of the affordable connectivity program. Meanwhile, CEO Mike Sievert told analysts T-Mobile is “open-minded” but not set on buying additional fiber assets.

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

The FCC shouldn’t apply online public information file (OPIF) requirements to low-power television stations, LPTV groups, NAB, the National Religious Broadcasters, Gray Television and numerous individual broadcasters say in comments filed in docket 24-147 posted by Wednesday.

Consumer advocates and industry officials disagreed Wednesday about the need for addressing junk fees in the broadband and communications marketplace. After noting that increased competition results in consumers getting faster speeds and better service, ACA Connects Chief Regulatory Counsel Brian Hurley said, "In this competitive marketplace, our members and providers have every incentive to avoid bill shock and other negative experiences that could compel their customers to take their business elsewhere." Addressing a Broadband Breakfast webinar, Hurley added there's "no finding that junk fees are prevalent" in the marketplace.

The AI Safety Institute (AISI) plans testing frontier AI models prior to deployment, Director Elizabeth Kelly said in an interview at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Wednesday (see 2402070069). “We’re in a good position to begin that testing in the months ahead because of the commitments we’ve gotten from the leading companies," Kelly told the CSIS Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies. When it comes to developing safety standards for AI, the institute will rely on companies showing “what’s under the hood” in their next-generation work, she said. However, because it's not a regulatory body, the institute can only encourage that companies make such information available. Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Adobe, IBM, Nvidia and several other companies have agreed to voluntary testing (see 2407260027). AI safety regulation is under the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security and reporting rules “have not been finalized," so questions remain, Kelly said. The Commerce Department’s website said BIS “will invoke the Defense Production Act to institute measures to enhance safety as next-generation frontier AI models are developed, including measures requiring developers to report the steps they are taking to test their models and protect them from theft." Kelly also spoke about the importance of international collaboration for developing safety standards for frontier AI through the International Network of AI Safety Institutes. International AI safety groups and other stakeholders plan on meeting in November in the San Francisco area, she said.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday signaled they want Donald Trump to rescind President Joe Biden’s AI executive order if the former president wins the November election.

The three major U.S. tower companies reported Q2 results, with Crown Castle the last to go, on Tuesday. All three companies' CEOs said that despite some slowing in 5G deployments, major U.S. carriers still have a ways to go to build out their networks. In addition, they expressed optimism despite a downturn in deployments in recent quarters (see 2402290050).

The mega constellation boom -- and satellites' maneuvering capabilities -- demonstrates the need for a global system of information sharing among satellite operators, according to Richard DalBello, director of Commerce's Office of Space Commerce. He spoke Tuesday during a Politico space commerce event. At the same event, Sens. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., warned about increased space threats the U.S. faces, particularly from China and Russia.

The Senate voted 91-3 on Tuesday to approve a pair of kids’ online safety bills, shifting attention to the House, where the legislation awaits committee consideration.

NTIA released the first of six data dashboard tools Monday that will help publicly "monitor the progress of construction and implementation related to projects" the agency's broadband programs fund. The just-released tool will provide "increased transparency" of reporting requirements. The agency also released additional guidance about compliance with its build America, buy America waiver.