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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has responded to a court order by reviewing how its decision to reclassify broadband internet access affects public safety, pole attachments, and support for low-income consumers through the Lifeline program. The FCC decided to maintain the classification of broadband as an information service, emphasizing the benefits of regulatory certainty and innovation, despite some concerns about its impact on public safety and infrastructure. They concluded that the advantages of encouraging investment and innovation outweigh potential drawbacks, ensuring that the Lifeline program can still support broadband access for low-income Americans through carefully defined legal authority. Additionally, adjustments will be made to Lifeline rules, removing broadband as a standalone supported service while continuing to fund it as part of voice-broadband bundles.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a correcting amendment to fix an error in a previous rule regarding the Universal Service Fund's high-cost program. This correction was initially published in the Federal Register on April 10, 2024. The rule involves changes to part 36 of CFR, which deals with procedures for dividing telecommunications costs. It also includes guidelines for local exchange carriers on filing petitions for changes in study area boundaries.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has announced the availability of non-confidential materials for an upcoming meeting. These materials can be accessed online at least 24 hours before the meeting on the LSC website. For further information, Jessica Wechter, the Special Assistant to the President, can be contacted via phone or email. The announcement adheres to requirements under 5 U.S.C. 552b.

In Executive Order 14226, the President is updating a previous order regarding duties on items crossing the northern border to help reduce the flow of illegal drugs. This amendment specifically changes how certain goods are treated under a policy that allows duty-free treatment for small shipments, known as de minimis treatment. This exemption will no longer apply once the Secretary of Commerce confirms that the standard processes for collecting tariffs are in place. The order clarifies that it does not alter any legal authority and does not grant any new legal rights to individuals.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This adjustment ensures the penalties remain effective deterrents by increasing them to the maximum level prescribed by the law. The updated penalties use a multiplier, based on the Consumer Price Index, to calculate the rise for the year 2025. These changes will apply to violations assessed after the rule's effective date of December 27, 2024.

The Census Bureau of the Commerce Department is inviting public comments on updates to the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS). This survey, conducted every two weeks, provides important real-time data on how businesses are doing in the U.S., such as changes in revenue, employment, and the use of technologies like artificial intelligence. The bureau aims to improve the quality of data and reduce the reporting burden on businesses. Comments are welcomed to help assess and refine these updates before seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The State Department has announced that certain art objects are being imported from abroad for temporary display in the "Sargent and Paris" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These objects are considered culturally significant and displaying them in the United States is deemed to be in the national interest. This determination was made under various legal authorities, and public notice of this has been published in the Federal Register. For more information, Reed Liriano at the U.S. Department of State can be contacted.

The President issued Executive Order 14227, which amends previous orders related to duties at the Southern Border. The amendment specifically changes section 2(g) to allow certain goods to enter duty-free under specific conditions until the Secretary of Commerce informs the President that all systems for collecting tariffs are ready. The executive order clarifies that it does not affect existing legal authority or create new legal rights and will be implemented as allowed by current laws and available funding.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to start a program with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) called the Taxpayer Address Request (TAR), where the IRS will provide taxpayer mailing addresses to the DOJ. This information will help the DOJ locate people who owe debts to the United States to begin legal actions or collect the debts. The program is set to start on January 30, 2025, and will last for 18 months. The authority for this program comes from the Privacy Act of 1974, along with specific regulations that allow the IRS to share this information with the DOJ.