Withers Talks: Leveling The Playing Field With Michael Rueda | Episode 5 - The Business Of Talent: Business Management For Long Term Success

The FCC's Media Bureau has opened a public comment period on a challenge to its guidance regarding lowest unit charge requirements for political advertising, reigniting a contentious debate that has already seen intervention from both the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic congressional candidates are contesting the Bureau's interpretation of LUC rules for joint fundraising committees and coordinated advertisements, with comments due by late September 2026.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a preliminary injunction against Perplexity AI, determining that when an AI agent acts at a user's direction, it is the user—not the AI company—who "accesses" computer systems under federal and California computer fraud statutes. This landmark appellate decision addresses how existing computer-access laws apply to agentic artificial intelligence and has significant implications...

Revenue sharing and NIL issues have transformed college athletics into complex business operations, prompting questions about whether traditional single-department structures remain optimal. Could Disney's multi-subsidiary model offer a blueprint for universities to manage revenue-generating sports separately while supporting Olympic programs through specialized entities?

On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (covered separately here) in which the Commission advances its ongoing efforts to secure the U.S.

Artificial intelligence may live in the cloud, but the underlying infrastructure that makes it possible for AI to perform is decidedly physical—and increasingly power hungry.

The International Chamber of Commerce has released an updated Framework for Responsible Alcohol Marketing Communications, providing enhanced guidance on marketing to minors, influencer responsibilities, and alcohol-free brand extensions. The 2026 edition emphasizes marketer accountability for ensuring compliance across the entire marketing ecosystem, including third-party endorsers and influencers.

California's new Senate Bill 867 prohibits the manufacture and sale of children's toys containing AI companion chatbots, marking a significant shift in how states regulate AI-enabled consumer products. The legislation treats conversational AI functionality as an integral part of product safety rather than a separate digital service, potentially reshaping liability exposure for manufacturers, retailers, and AI vendors across the supply chain.

The FCC has announced the September 24, 2026 deadline for regulatory fee payments, with notable increases including a rise in Interstate Telecommunications Service Provider fees to 0.0055 per revenue dollar and a 20% increase for submarine cable system fees. All payments must be submitted electronically through CORES, with failure to meet the deadline resulting in automatic 25% late payment penalties that the FCC does not ordinarily waive.

The Advertising Standards Authority has issued a detailed ruling on Popeyes' breakfast menu advertisements, examining whether they violated new restrictions on advertising less healthy foods. The case hinged on whether products could be visually distinguished from similar menu items, with the colour of hash brown seasoning becoming a critical factor in the decision.

The FCC has opened a public comment period on ensuring reliable spectrum access for commercial space launch and reentry operations, following a presidential directive that aims to support over 1,000 annual launches by 2030. With comments due in just 20 days, companies involved in launch operations, UAS/USV services, and incumbent spectrum users face a compressed timeline to shape the regulatory framework for this rapidly expanding industry.