FCC's Brendan Carr Talks Approval Times, Paramount-Warner, Disney

Summary

Bloomberg Talks — FCC’s Brendan Carr Talks Approval Times, Paramount-Warner, Disney

Date: July 13, 2026
Host: Bloomberg Tech Host
Guest: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the FCC’s evolving regulatory policies under Chairman Brendan Carr, focusing on space-based communications, direct-to-device technology, and major moves in the media landscape—including deals like Paramount-Warner and scrutiny of Disney. The conversation unpacks both policy strategy and specific cases facing the commission, highlighting the FCC’s broader push for efficiency and modernization.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Regulation of Orbital Data Centers and the Expanding Space Economy

[00:37–02:30]

• The FCC’s responsibility extends from consumer connectivity to shaping regulatory frameworks for the emerging space economy.
• Brendan Carr: The agency is streamlining authorizations for orbital assets, including data centers and satellite networks, primarily by modernizing approval processes and addressing orbital debris.
• The FCC’s role increasingly involves coordinating with other regulators as more computational resources move into orbit.
• Quote:
  • “We want to make sure that consumers are right away feeling a difference in their life. ... The second piece ... what are the fundamental regulatory changes we can do that are going to pay off for consumers in the long run?”
    —Brendan Carr [01:35]

2. Faster Approvals & Streamlined Space Authorizations

[02:46–03:41]

• The FCC is shifting from custom reviews to an “assembly line” model—with objective criteria for approvals.
• This new approach aims to dramatically increase the volume and speed of satellite and space tech approvals.
• Recent reforms have cut the backlog of approvals by half, fostering more innovation and competition.
• Quote:
  • “We’re giving people objective criteria to hit. That way we can end up approving, you know, thousands or hundreds of thousands of applications, whereas before our processes would take us, you know, months or years to do a small handful.”
    —Brendan Carr [03:11]

3. Wireless Networks: Market Structure & Competitive Environment

[03:41–05:16]

• The Host references the shift from a “four national wireless networks” regulatory philosophy.
• Carr describes how the FCC facilitated Dish/EchoStar’s exit and enabled SpaceX’s Starlink to enter, without negative consumer impact.
• The FCC’s reforms—such as permitting improvements and allowing legacy copper network retirements—have led to lower prices and increased competition.
• Quote:
  • “This old view of having to have four individual mobile wireless providers or the sky would fall—we didn’t buy. ... The evidence is coming in to show that this new theory is correct.”
    —Brendan Carr [04:52]

4. Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity

[05:16–07:25]

• Carr confirms there’s been no substantial private discussions with SpaceX about its direct-to-device ambitions.
• The FCC is building a regulatory framework to foster several facilities-based providers for direct-to-cell, ensuring the U.S. leads globally.
• There’s a public perception of FCC favoritism toward SpaceX, but Carr counters that reforms benefit a wide range of providers: Amazon, AST SpaceMobile, smaller firms, etc.
• Quote:
  • “We’re taking actions that benefit Amazon, Leo, that benefit many smaller providers as well... So there’s many, many companies in this sector that are benefiting from our new mindset at the FCC, which is to go faster with these approvals.”
    —Brendan Carr [06:56]

5. Spectrum Policy: Importance and Recent Moves

[07:25–08:53]

• Exclusive spectrum access is described as vital for efficient direct-to-device service.
• FCC under Carr has overseen $130 billion in spectrum-related deals—across all wireless services, not just mobile.
• The FCC is voting to create a new “super band” of 440 MHz for 5G/6G, as well as facilitating satellite spectrum access for players like SpaceX and Amazon.
• Amazon’s move to buy GlobalStar for spectrum is highlighted, as well as AST’s spectrum ambitions, reflecting a fiercely competitive and evolving sector.
• Quote:
  • “We’re voting this month to create 160 MHz of new spectrum for mid band offerings ... It’s effectively going to create what we’re referring to as a super band of 440 MHz wide channel for mid band, spectrum for 5G, for 6G.”
    —Brendan Carr [08:16]

6. Media Mergers: Paramount-Skydance-Warner & FCC’s Role

[08:53–10:08]

• News breaks of a dozen states preparing to sue to block the Paramount-Skydance-Warner deal.
• Carr sees little basis for legitimate antitrust concerns in such a merger but acknowledges the process must play out.
• An unusual condition—from the CA Attorney General to not sue if CNN is spun off—is questioned for its antitrust logic.
• The FCC’s involvement is limited to vetting foreign investment in such deals.

7. Disney & Broadcast Licenses: DEI and Public Interest Oversight

[10:08–12:30]

• Carr discusses extensive FCC scrutiny of Disney, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, possible discrimination, and broadcaster public interest obligations.
• Disney’s broadcast licenses were called in for early renewal due to concern over workplace discrimination allegations.
• The FCC is also investigating the categorization of “The View” as a news program.
• This is positioned against a broader effort to hold all broadcasters, not just Disney, accountable to the “public interest” standard—separating them legally from cable or online media.
• Quote:
  • “Frankly, the view was that Disney was being disingenuous in the way it was responding to the FCC inquiries. And so we took the next step in our enforcement abilities, which was we called in all of Disney’s broadcast licenses for early renewal... At this point Disney is, is demonstrating, attempting to demonstrate that it should get those licenses renewed and we’ll ultimately see what the record shows.”
    —Brendan Carr [11:25]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Regulatory Philosophy:
  • “We want to make sure that all broadcasters are in the fact, living up to their public interest obligations.”
    —Brendan Carr [12:19]
• Industry Transformation:
  • “We’ve cut the backlog of FCC approvals down by about half. We’re moving much faster...”
    —Brendan Carr [03:13]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:35] – Carr on the FCC’s evolving regulatory responsibilities in space
• [02:46] – Transition to faster, objective approval processes
• [04:16] – Analysis of wireless network competition post-EchoStar
• [05:34] – Direct-to-device satellite technology—FCC’s role and industry competition
• [07:46] – Spectrum strategies and the creation of new spectrum resources
• [08:53] – Breaking news & discussion on the Paramount-Skydance-Warner merger
• [10:31] – Deep dive into FCC’s oversight of Disney, DEI practices, and licensing

---

Summary

This episode showcases the FCC’s aggressive modernization under Chairman Carr, with sweeping changes in how space and wireless authorizations are handled, leveling the playing field for both established giants and new entrants. The agency’s reformist stance is paired with an increased willingness to scrutinize media conglomerates for both structural consolidation and workplace practices. Carr’s direct commentary offers an unvarnished look at how the FCC aims to balance pro-innovation policies with rigorous public interest oversight in a fast-evolving tech and media landscape.

Transcript

[IBM Executive]

The thing about AI for business, it may not automatically fit the way your business works. At IBM, we've seen this firsthand. But by embedding AI across hr, IT and procurement processes, we've reduced costs by millions, slash repetitive tasks, and freed thousands of hours for strategic work. Now we're helping companies get smarter by putting AI where it actually pays off, deep in the work that moves the business. Let's create smarter business. IBM,

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Bloomberg Audio studios, podcasts, radio news

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

data are increasingly shaping America's space race. The FCC decides who gets access to spectrum, approves satellite communication systems, and is now confronting the next frontier of the space economy. From orbital data centers to direct to device connectivity. Joining us now is FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to discuss the future of space communications spectrum wireless policy. Before we turn to some of the major media issues facing the commission Chairman Car, thank you so much for being back on Bloomberg Tech. Should we start with maybe the more nascent area of Space X's business plan, which is Orbital Data Center? I think a lot of value to the audience and to Americans is could you just explain how the FCC regulates Orbital Data center, why it has a role in oversight of how much material from a compute perspective will be in orbit above the Earth?

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

That's your question. So at the fcc, and frankly, all across the Trump administration, we're focused on two things. One, we want to make sure that consumers are right away feeling a difference in their life. And right now we're seeing that on the connectivity front, with speeds are up, prices are down, competition is intensifying. But the second piece goes to your question, which is what are the fundamental regulatory changes we can do? They're going to pay off for consumers in the long run. And a lot of that has to do with the emerging space economy. To your point, we're seeing many, many more things go into orbit, whether it's all of this new generation of low earth orbit satellites or data centers. And so the FTC has a role to play, one to make sure that everyone has the spectrum access they need in order to launch those. But even things like orbital debris end up hanging off of a lot of the FCC authorizations. And of course that's in conjunction with a broader group of regulators as well.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

When Space X or another player comes to the FCC seeking approval to deploy data centers in the form factor of a satellite into orbit, what are the considerations by which the FCC decides approval to block approval?

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Well, the first thing for us is we want to go much more quickly. You know, when I took over, we launched, we called a Build America agenda. And a key piece of that is boosting America's space economy. And it used to be when we would get satellite applications that would come in, we would get, you know, one or two or three a year, and we would do individualized, bespoke custom reviews. And what we're fundamentally changing is to an assembly line mindset. In fact, we're going to vote this month to change how we run our Space Bureau operations. So it'll be objective criteria. And if you hit those, you should expect much faster FCC approvals. In fact, we've cut the backlog of FCC approvals down by about half. We're moving much faster, and so we're giving people objective criteria to hit. That way we can end up improving, you know, thousands or hundreds of thousands of applications, whereas before, our processes would take us, you know, months or years to do a small handful of that

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

away from orbital data centers. A big focus right now is the wireless networks. In the context of space. Prior iterations of the SEC debated and looked at a fourth national wireless network with Echo Star. Right. And I think I'm right in saying Chairman Call you, you were critical of prior approaches to that future market. What has happened in the interim is that the FCC has handed some of those same licenses to Space X for Starlink. What do we interpret through that mechanism?

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Well, you're right. There was a mindset several years ago that said we have to have four separate standalone mobile wireless providers, let alone many other competitors that we have in the broader connectivity market. And people said that if you didn't have four, that prices would rise for consumers or speeds would slow down. And we haven't seen that obviously at all. We've completed the process of facilitating Dish Echo Star effectively exiting the market when it comes to mobile wireless. And consumers continue to benefit from a lot of price competition. So it's a great time for consumers, but it's also a really good time for companies because we're taking a lot of the costs, unnecessary costs, out of the system, whether it's permitting reform, whether it's allowing providers to retire these old copper networks they had to subsidized in addition to their new networks. And so this old view of having to have four individual mobile wireless providers or the sky would fall, we didn't buy. And obviously the evidence is coming in to show that that this new theory is correct.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

You told Bloomberg last week that you have not had substantial conversations with Space X about their wireless ambitions. Substantial conversations. So Chairman Car just asked if you had any conversations of any degree of substance with Space X about it?

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

No, I don't think I've had any much. I guess if I hadn't used a substantial maybe I would have avoided the follow on question. But I don't recall having any conversations with them about that. Look, I do think one of the things we're really excited about is this new emerging trend towards direct to cell technology where you can go straight from one of these low earth orbit satellites right to a handset. Obviously Starlink is doing that. We've facilitated them getting from Spectrum to do it. But also Amazon is looking to do it ast Space Mobile is looking to do it. So we want every single competitor in this sector to do well overall.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

You know the FCC has done quite a large body of work to come up with some kind of regulatory framework I think right. For direct to device the accusation is is of maybe favoritism towards Space X. You've also denied several of their requests. How are you going about building out that framework?

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Yeah, a couple of things on Direct to Sell in particular, you know, our view was to have two or three facilities based providers in that segment so that the United States could lead the world in that. That's something I think it's really important to President Trump is that US lead when it comes to these new, new emerging technologies and we are in really good position to do that. There are always lots of stories about FCC taking action to benefit Starlink or Space X and I get it, it probably results in more clicks. But the reality is is we are, you know, uplifting every single operator or business that's in the space economy. We're taking actions that benefit Amazon, Leo, that benefit many smaller providers as well. So reflect orbit logos, AST, space mobile of course SpaceX as well. So there's many, many companies in this sector that are benefiting from our new mindset at the FCC which is to go faster with these approvals. We don't want to get stuck navel gazing.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

We're live on Bloomberg Television and on Bloomberg Radio. This is Bloomberg Tech speaking with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. There's also a technical consideration about Spectrum which is why is it important, Chairman, for a direct to device provider to have exclusive spectrum use in and amongst everything else that's happening up there.

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Well, it's a very efficient way to operate. Have your own spectrum as we've been very open to spectrum deals. On the one hand we've had about $130 billion worth of deal flow go through the FCC. This Trump administration, not just mobile wireless but across the board and we're moving hard on spectrum as well, and not just direct to sell. We're voting this month to create 160 MHz of new spectrum for mid band offerings and what's called the C band. And it's effectively going to create what we're referring to as a super band of 440 MHz wide channel for mid band, spectrum for 5G, for 6G. But you're right on the satellite side as well. So Space X has access to, I think it's 65 MHz of spectrum that they can use for direct to sell. Amazon just announced that they are looking to purchase Global Star which also has spectrum that could be used for direct to sell technology. So you see a lot of the players in this space AST as well that are looking to obtain their own spectrum rights so they can stand alone and offer that service in a complement to existing connectivity services.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

Jim Carr Just before the show started, Bloomberg broke some news in a story that a group of about a dozen states is poised to sue to block the Paramount Skydance Warner Brothers deal. I think there had been prior reporting that various attorneys across those states have been preparing for that. Anyway, I know that the FCC kind of has a nominal role to look at the foreign financing of such a deal, but I hope you appreciate to ask you about what the latest is there and your reaction to a statewide antitrust suit.

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

Well, it's hard to see a real legitimate antitrust action. But of course, you know, I leave it to the antitrust experts to weigh in on this. I did think it was interesting that there was a statement at least attributed to the California attorney general that said that they would not sue if Paramount agreed to spin off cnn. It's hard to conceive of a competition or antitrust theory that takes you all the way up to the point where owning or not owning CNN as part of that broader group is a legitimate line that antitrust or competition law would draw. For our part, we do have a piece of this with respect to some of the foreign investment and we're running a standard process on that and we haven't made a final decision there yet.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

In recent interviews, you've also been asked, of course, about Disney and you've said that you've not made a decision on whether to pull Disney's broadcast licenses over various diversity and inclusion practices. Again, remind us of the FCC's remit in that area. But what it would take for you to look at a potential action

[FCC Chairman Brendan Carr]

with respect to Disney in particular, The FCC has three proceedings that are going on or sort of three buckets of issues, one starting all the way back in March of 2025, I wrote a letter to Disney leadership raising concerns about some of their practices, including what we call invidious forms of DEI discrimination, where there's potential evidence indicating that they may have been discriminating with effective pay or compensation or workplace opportunities based on race, gender or protected characteristics. There's a role for the FCC there. We have particular rules on EEO policies and discrimination. So we've been looking into that for quite a while. In fact, we've been doing some letters of inquiry, our versions of subpoena. And frankly, the view was that Disney was being disingenuous in the way it was responding to the FCC inquiries. And so we took the next step in our enforcement abilities, which was we called in all of Disney's broadcast licenses for early renewal. So Disney has now applied and they have to demonstrate that they've been operating in the public interest. There have been petitions to deny the renewal of those Disney stations. And so the FC is looking at all of that very carefully right now. To your point, we've not made the final decision, but at this point Disney is, is demonstrating, attempting to demonstrate that it should get those licenses renewed and we'll ultimately see what the record shows. We also have obviously a separate issue going on with Disney right now with respect to the View and their claims of the View being a bona fide news program. But we have the dei, the license renewal in the View proceeding going. But more broadly, we're trying to hold all broadcasters accountable to their public interest standard. We have issued similar actions with respect to a number of other broadcasters. I think for years people took the view that broadcast TV should be treated just like cable or a podcast or a newspaper. But that's not what the Communications act in Congress said. And so we want to make sure that all broadcasters are in the fact, living up to their public interest obligations.

[Bloomberg Tech Host]

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr joining us from our DC studio. Thank you very much indeed.

[Boost Mobile Advertiser]

The official language of football is trash talk, late night group chats, memes and unbelievable highlight clips. That's why Boost Mobile brings you our new global Connection plan. The first plan ever made for WhatsApp. Get unlimited data, talk and text, international roaming and calls to over 100 countries for just $40 a month. $40 price includes $5 a month auto pay discount after 40 gigabytes of premium high speed data speeds will be lowered. Coverage not available everywhere. Visit Store or BoostMobile.com for details.