Cable operators adapting to regulatory 'whiplash'

The cable industry's policy people are working through a smorgasbord of issues, including surprise litigation tied to the Universal Service Fund, a temporary stay on the return of network neutrality rules, tricky nuances tied to the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, and even the recent temporary injunction slapped on Venu, a new sports streaming service. Yet another challenge: a US Supreme Court decision in June that struck down the decades-old "Chevron" deference that stands to curtail the Federal Communications Commission's authority to set and enforce network neutrality rules and other regulations. Brian Hurley, chief regulatory counsel for ACA Connects, spoke about the impacts of the various issues on members and their work, saying that while the organization celebrates some recent court decisions (like the temporary injunction against Venu), it is grappling with the impacts of others.