FCC Rescinds Certain Cybersecurity Measures

In an internally contentious ruling, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rescinded a previous Commission action intended to hold telecommunications carriers legally responsible for implementing and certifying cybersecurity protocols.

According to an Order on Reconsideration, the Commission called a January 2025 Declaratory Ruling by the Commission “based in part on the Declaratory Ruling’s flawed legal analysis,” thereby making it “unlawful and ineffective.” At the same time, the Commission also withdrew a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that accompanied the Declaratory Ruling.

To support its decision, the Commission cited numerous efforts this year to strengthen cybersecurity measures for communications networks, including the establishment of a Council on National Security to advise the Commission on cybersecurity issues, and the adoption of targeted but flexible rules for communications providers.

The Commission also cited its recent efforts to ban what it calls “bad labs” from the FCC’s equipment authorization program.

However, the Commission’s Order faced critical pushback from at least one Commissioner, Anna M. Gomez, who said that “By rescinding previous efforts to strengthen our networks and offering nothing in their place, the FCC leaves the country less secure at the very moment when these threats are increasing.”

EMC Test Lab Market Expected to Nearly Double in Next Ten Years

The future of the global economy may be unclear, but there’s at least some “bright light” for those in the EMC testing business.

That’s the key takeaway in a recent report issued by consulting firm Future Market Insights (FMI), titled “EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Laboratory Market Forecast and Outlook 2025 to 2035.” According to FMI’s research and data analysis, the global market for EMC testing is expected to reach $2.9 billion by the year 2035, nearly double the $1.6 billion projected for 2025. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% per year over the next 10 years.

The report says that growth in EMC testing over the next 10 years will be driven by several factors. These include the rapid technological evolution of electronic devices and a rising demand in key industries, such as aerospace, telecommunications, and consumer electronics. The authors specifically note the shift to electric and autonomous vehicles in the automotive industry, and that the need for an advanced EMC testing infrastructure to support that transition will also fuel growth.

Finally, increasing regulatory requirements around the globe for EMC compliance and EMC certification will contribute to the future growth of the EMC testing infrastructure.

EU Commission Seeks Input on Product Safety Framework

The Commission of the European Union (EU) is taking steps to ensure that its product safety legislative framework reflects the realities of technology in the 21st Century.

According to a press release issued last month, the Commission is seeking comments on two significant initiatives related to its current framework. The first initiative would review the Commission’s principles for market access, CE marking, and conformity assessment. According to the Commission, the end goal of the review is to simplify current rules, reduce administrative burdens, and improve alignment of regulations across multiple industry sectors.

The second initiative would assess how the Commission’s current market surveillance regulation could better help authorities and customs officials enforce current EU product rules and ensure enforcement against the marketing of unsafe or non‑compliant products.

EU Commission Taking Steps to Simplify Access to the EU’s “Single Market”

The Commission of the European Union (EU) has introduced a package of measures that it says will help to simplify existing rules and regulations in order to further support the EU’s market size and future growth.

The Commission’s package of measures, titled “Simplifying the Single Market,” would, according to the Commission, “make it easier for businesses to operate, innovate, and grow, while maintaining high standards of protection for consumers and the environment.” The proposed initiatives in the package include:

• Supporting small mid-cap companies—The Commission would create a new category of business entities for small mid-cap companies (SMCs), and give these companies access to simplified rules and reduced compliance barriers.
• Simplifying GDPR rules—Record keeping obligations under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations would also be simplified for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small mid-caps (SMCs).
• Digitalizing product legislation—This initiative would allow companies to provide product information in digital format, easing administrative burdens while also making it easier for consumers to access critical product information.
• Postponement of battery due diligence requirements—The Commission will postpone the implementation of due diligence requirements under its Batteries Regulation for a period of two years, giving companies more time to comply.