BEA2026

What is the state of media universe?Telcom Update is now 30 years old and the media world is changing rapidly; there are many questions. Do services like YouTubeTV and Sling spell the end of cable? Will AI spell death to copyright and change ‘Fair Use’? How will AI impact local journalism? Are broadcasters and cable ready for the fragmentation of sports? Should there be a federal right of publicity law? Will the FCC change ownership rules? Can Next Gen TV save broadcasters? Can rural public radio survive without federal funding? With the FCC’s new 2025 EEO rules is DEI dead? What will state-level age verification laws do to the Internet? Finally, there are many difficult questions for the Supreme Court on what role government has in the new media frontier. These issues are some that will be addressed in this year’s panel.

Moderator: Fritz J. Messere, SUNY - Oswego
Panelists: Kim A. Zarkin, Westminster University, Current First Amendment Issues in Media 
Laurie Thomas Lee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Important Privacy Issues Related to Media
Amy Sindik, Central Michigan University, FCC and Regulatory Issues Impacting Broadcasting 
Paul J. MacArthur, Utica University, Cable, Satellite and Online Video Issues