Public Knowledge

Trahan Co-Leads New Bill to Open App Market, Protect Consumer Choice

I am thrilled to see that competitive app markets are still a priority in Congress. Many thanks to Reps. Cammack and Trahan for leading the charge in the House on this with the App Store Freedom Act. You can read information on the bill, along with my quote here: trahan.house.gov/news/documen...

Graphic with Wikimedia logo, photos and bio of participating panelists, and text that reads, "Summer 2025 Class of legal Fellow present: The Past Present and Future of Notice and Takedown: A Panel Discussion. "Wednesday, August 6th, 2025. 1 p.m. EST/5 p.m. UTC.

Tomorrow at 1 PM EST! Tune in for a panel discussion feat. Senior Policy Counsel @mrose.ink, breaking down the resurgence of notice-and-takedown requirements for online platforms, like the recent #TAKEITDOWNAct & #NOFAKESAct. RSVP to join the livestream ⏬

wikimedia.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Graphic with Public Knowledge logo, and text that reads: 22nd Annual IP3 Awards. Meet the 2025 Awardees! Internet Protocol: Joseph Lorenzo Hall; Intellectual Property: Sarah Jeong; Information Policy, Dr. Alondra Nelson; and the President's Award, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. Join us on September 30 — RSVP Today!

Public Knowledge is proud to announce this year’s awardees for the 22nd Annual IP3 Awards! RSVP to join us on September 30 for this prestigious ceremony celebrating these trailblazers in the field of tech policy. Save your spot today!

publicknowledge.org/IP3Awards

FCC Formally Approves Paramount Global/Skydance Media Merger in Deal Likely To Harm Consumers, Free Press Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

Yesterday, the FCC released its Order approving the $8 billion Paramount Global & Skydance merger.

The Order imposes unprecedented merger conditions—notably an agreement that the new entity will not engage in any diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Our statement from @mwils.bsky.social:

Graphic with fading text that reads, “Delete, delete, delete.” Text that reads, “Chairman Carr wants to delete accountability at the FCC. Read our letter: publicknowledge.org/delete

The new rule threatens oversight, transparency, and accountability in an unprecedented power grab by the Chairman. Read our letter at the link below:

publicknowledge.org/delete

Public Knowledge Rejects FCC Vote Undermining Agency Transparency, Accountability, and Public Input Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

🚨 The FCC just voted to approve a Direct Final Rule that would allow the agency to eliminate existing rules without a transparent notice-and-comment rulemaking process — in a clear violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Our statement from @alisavalentin.bsky.social:

Public Knowledge Urges FCC To Include Tribal Priority Window in Next Spectrum Auction Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

This decision marks a missed opportunity to respect Tribal sovereignty over their spectrum resources — and comes at the cost of the much-needed spectrum Tribes could use to provide broadband access to their communities. Read our statement from Gov Affairs Policy Advocate @natpurser.bsky.social:

Today, the FCC voted to carry out Congress’ directive to auction spectrum licenses previously returned to the agency — but rejected a proposal for a Tribal Licensing Window, which would allow Tribal nations to apply separately for licenses covering Tribal lands.

Public Knowledge Opposes FCC Vote Risking America’s 911 Access Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

@publicknowledge.bsky.social opposes the FCC’s action to abandon the responsibilities Congress charged it to perform. Our statement from @haroldfeld.bsky.social:

publicknowledge.org/public-knowl...

🚨 The FCC just voted to approve a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to seek comment on the agency’s plan to encourage a swift transition from copper to IP-based networks. However, such a rapid transition would threaten universal access to emergency services in times of need—especially for rural America.

President Trump’s AI Action Plan Misses the Mark, Calls for Action Without Vision Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

"[Trump's AI Action Plan] is action without vision or direction." Our statement on today's announcement from Senior Policy Counsel @nickgarcia.bsky.social:

publicknowledge.org/president-tr...

Hopes and Fears for President Trump’s AI Action Plan A look at what Trump’s AI plan could still get right—and what we can’t afford to get wrong.

🚨 Tomorrow, the Trump Admin is expected to release an AI Action Plan along with new executive orders on #AI. In his latest article, @nickgarcia.bsky.social takes a look at what Trump’s AI plan has the opportunity to get right—and what America can’t afford to get wrong.

Wi-Fi Experts Reveal How Trump’s Budget Bill Could Slow Down Your Wi-Fi The Federal Communications Commission will be required to auction off public airwaves on the 6GHz band used by the latest Wi-Fi routers.

@cnet.com: "Wi-Fi Experts Reveal How Trump’s Budget Bill Could Slow Down Your Wi-Fi" — featuring @publicknowledge.bsky.social Senior Vice President @haroldfeld.bsky.social:

Courts Agree: AI Training Ruled As Fair Use in Bartz v. Anthropic and Kadrey v. Meta Two recent landmark trials on AI found that AI training on copyrighted works is fair use — but the details aren't so cut and dry.

Good write-up of the two big cases that dropped last month, courtesy of my colleague @nickgarcia.bsky.social

Fair use is what enables quote-dunking. It's what lets you make fun of elected officials by quoting their own words back at them. It's what allows gifs to exist in the first place. It's what makes software interoperable. It underpins literally everything online.

One of the fun parts of policy work is that you have a handful of extremely important, esoteric, but load-bearing legal concepts (like fair use) that only ever make it into public consciousness when they're being targeted for destruction, and public opinion about them is entirely outcome-dependent.

President Trump’s Rescissions Package Threatens Free Press Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

"President Trump is sending a message to all media by cutting funds for the CPB: covering this administration has a cost, particularly if President Trump doesn’t like what you have to say." Read our statement from Policy Analyst @mwils.bsky.social:

publicknowledge.org/president-tr...

🚨 Today, the House voted to pass the “Rescissions Act of 2025”, slashing over 9 billion dollars in federal funding for a variety of grantees — including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds both @NPR.org and @PBS.org.

Public Knowledge Welcomes New Member to Board of Directors Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

🎉 Public Knowledge is proud to announce a new member has joined its Board of Directors: Richard Whitt will join nine other board members to provide Public Knowledge with strategic counsel and leadership.

publicknowledge.org/public-knowl...

Public Knowledge Joins 21 Groups Urging FCC Chairman Carr To Follow the Law, Stop Undermining Agency’s Power Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

The item threatens critical safeguards followed by the agency to prevent abuse, and would place unprecedented power in the hands of the Chair. Read our statement from Director of Government Affairs Sara Collins:

publicknowledge.org/public-knowl...

🚨 Today, @publicknowledge.bsky.social joined 21 other public interest, civil rights, labor, and digital rights groups in a letter urging FCC Chair Brendan Carr to pull an item from the FCC's July Open Meeting agenda for violating the Administrative Procedure Act.

Come for the analysis, stay for the argument that my cat is actually a fish, linger for the subhead “Warhol (derogatory)”

The Fatal Failures of the Copyright Office’s Report on AI At long last, the Copyright Office released its third report on fair use and AI — but their analysis contained serious missteps.

The Copyright Office finally released its long-awaited third installment on AI and fair use. But while the top-line conclusions were generally on point, the reasoning in their analysis misses the mark. The latest from @mrose.ink:

publicknowledge.org/the-fatal-fa...

Organizations Counter FTC’s Biased and Partisan Workshop with a Workshop Focused on Medical Truth and Consumer Protection Washington, D.C., July 11, 2025 Yesterday, Public Knowledge, LGBT Tech, and Fight for the Future hosted a workshop titled “The FTC’s Culture War vs. Consumer Protection.” The event was a direct counte...

"We don’t need culture wars. We need consumer protection.” Read the write-up from @lgbttech.bsky.social on last week's workshop at the link below:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: From UNICEF to NPR: Trump’s Cuts End Here: A Town Hall to Defend Global Health and Public Media. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email ab... Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: From UNICEF to NPR: Trump’s Cuts End Here: A Town Hall to Defend Global Health and Public Media. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email ab...

Happening today! Join @publiccitizen.bsky.social for a virtual town hall to stop Trump’s cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid. Register at the link below to earn about the real impacts of these over $9 billion in cuts — and how you can stop it:

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Why the FTC’s Click-to-Cancel Rule Deserved Better Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

The FTC's proposed "click-to-cancel" rule would have been a great move for consumer protection. But when it came time to defend the measure in court, the Commission dropped the ball completely. Read the latest from @bergmayer.net:

publicknowledge.org/why-click-to...

Public Knowledge Urges FCC To Block or Condition T-Mobile/U.S. Cellular Deal Eroding Wireless Competition Public Knowledge promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools and creative works. We work to shape policy.

🚨The DOJ has opted "not to seek an injunction" against the T-Mobile/U.S. Cellular deal. This is one of THREE deals dividing up U.S. Cellular. Read to learn how further concentration of wireless spectrum holdings runs contrary to the public interest.
publicknowledge.org/public-knowl...

Culture War Vs. Consumer Protections Nonrulemaking Docket No. FTCX-2025-0001 Request for Public Comment Regarding the FTC’s and Civil-Society Organizations’ Workshops on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors Agency: Shadow Federal Trade Commi...

Departing from 30 years of precedent, the FTC failed to open up a public comment docket on its highly politicized and biased July 9th workshop on gender-affirming care. So, @fightforthefuture.org decided to set up our own. Comment period ends September 8th- submit yours at the link below!

Thank you to all who joined us at today's event "Culture War vs. Consumer Protection!" We heard from medical experts, former FTC leaders, and families of transgender youth on what the role of the FTC should be in consumer protection when it comes to trans healthcare. Now, we want to hear from you! 🔈

🤖 After some technical difficulties earlier we are now live! Join us YouTube stream now at the link below!