FCC Chief Information Officer Appointment

The Federal Communications Commission announced the appointment of Farhan Khan as the Commission's new Chief Information Officer. The appointment was made by the Office of the Managing Director. This is a routine internal personnel announcement with no regulatory implications for external parties.

Lowest Unit Charge Guidance for Political Candidates

The FCC Media Bureau released guidance (DA-26-300) clarifying broadcasters' obligations regarding lowest unit charge requirements for legally qualified federal candidates and authorized campaign committees. The guidance addresses the 45-day primary and 60-day general election windows during which broadcasters must offer candidates the lowest available rates. This public notice does not create new obligations but restates existing requirements under FCC rules.

Domestic Energy Customer Credit Balances

Ofgem published data on domestic energy customer credit balances for January to December 2025, showing approximately £3.17 billion in total credit balances held by 17 million households paying by fixed Direct Debit. The average household credit balance was £199, with individual accounts averaging £212 in credit at year-end, representing a modest year-on-year increase from £206.

Renewables Obligation Annual Report Scheme Year 23

Ofgem published its annual Renewables Obligation transparency report for Scheme Year 23 (April 2024-March 2025), documenting 101.4 million ROCs issued to 26,644 accredited generators with 35.0 GW capacity. The collective supplier obligation was 119.5 million ROCs, with 88.6% compliance through ROCs and buy-out payments totalling £613.7 million. Two suppliers (Tomato Energy and Rebel Energy) ceased trading with a combined shortfall of £23.6 million.

Biomass Sustainability Data - 16th Reporting Year

Ofgem published the Biomass Sustainability Dataset for Scheme Year 23 (2024-2025), the 16th reporting year under the Renewables Obligation Order. The dataset accompanies the RO Annual Report and provides sustainability criteria data for biomass generating stations required to report against these standards. The data is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (416KB XLSX).

Feed-in Tariffs Quarterly Report Issue 63

Ofgem published Issue 63 of its quarterly Feed-in Tariffs report, covering Q3 2025 (October 1 - December 31, 2025). The report covers the scheme's 16th year of operation, providing updates on installation numbers, total installed capacity, and the levelisation process. This is a routine transparency publication with no new regulatory obligations.

AI Audit Tool Guidance for Audit Firms

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) published guidance for UK audit firms on using generative and agentic AI tools in audit engagements. The guidance provides a framework for obtaining appropriate confidence in AI tool outputs while maintaining human accountability for audit quality. This is the first guidance of its kind from any global audit regulator and the FRC's second document on AI in audit.

Supreme Court denies CFPB mortgage case certiorari

The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in a CFPB enforcement action involving alleged deceptive mortgage payment practices, leaving in place a 9th Circuit decision affirming liability on remand. The underlying case, filed by the CFPB in 2015, involved claims that a mortgage product overstated consumer savings and falsely implied lender affiliation. The denial concludes Supreme Court review while the $134M restitution award remains in effect.

Court vacates FinCEN real estate reporting rule

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated FinCEN's residential real estate reporting rule in Flowers Title Companies v. Bessent, finding the agency exceeded its statutory authority under the Bank Secrecy Act. The rule, which required title insurance agents, escrow agents, and attorneys to report non-financed residential transfers to entities or trusts, was effective since December 1, 2025 but had no minimum dollar threshold. The court found FinCEN's reliance on prior geographic targeting order statistics unpersuasive.

Fiecke-Stifter v. MidCountry Bank - TILA/FDCPA Claims in Foreclosure

The 8th Circuit affirmed dismissal of a TILA claim in Fiecke-Stifter v. MidCountry Bank, holding that 15 U.S.C. § 1639f(a) permits servicers to credit payments upon receipt and later return insufficient funds. The court vacated and remanded an FDCPA claim against foreclosure counsel, directing the district court to determine whether failing to provide a reinstatement amount within three days under Minnesota § 580.30 deprives counsel of the "present right to possession" required by § 1692f(6)(A). The case arose from a Minnesota nonjudicial foreclosure where the heir redeemed property for $77,159 versus a $58,722 loan balance.