Microsoft gave the statement to Joystiq earlier today but did not divulge a release date or a suggested cost. Reading between the lines of this statement, it appears Microsoft will sell it alongside its existing regular flavour wireless adaptor.

Microsoft Confirms Xbox 360 802.11n Adapter [Joystiq]

The FCC will begin the inquiry after they deliver a report on media blocking and rating techniques to Congress on August 31, two commission officials told Bloomberg.

The purported FCC action will come following congressional inquiries into whether children are harmed by inappropriate content and questions by senators about whether the laws need to be changed to protect children.

While the report, due to hit next week, won’t make any recommendations, it will announce that kick off of their look at universal ratings. The report looks specifically at technology that can block programming by ratings, which is, apparently, why movies aren’t included on the list.

Broadcasters met with the FCC earlier this month, warning them that a compulsory ratings system could be a violation of the First Amendment.

Reached for comment by Kotaku, the Entertainment Software Association echoed that sentiment.

“The ESA appreciates the FCC and its important role. However, the ESRB rating system is considered by parents, family advocates, the Federal Trade Commission, and elected officials as the gold standard in providing caregivers with the information they need to make the right choices for their families,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president for communications and industry affairs, at the ESA. “Universal ratings will, in the end, only serve to confuse consumers, violate the Constitution’s first amendment, and are a solution in search of a problem.”

Earlier this year, Taylor told Kotaku that the Barack Obama administration no longer seemed focused on Universal Ratings and that the president seemed gamer friendly.

U.S. Will Consider Single Rating System for TV, Phones, Games [Image]

So what was true and what was false? Check out what happened when we played judge, jury and executioner with these rumours.

Is the PS3 Slim real, and will we get a price drop?
The rumour: Several sources over the past few months have been claiming that a new, slimmer PS3 would come out, and that it would be cheaper.
Our verdict: Confirmed. Sony announced the PS3 Slim and a price drop to $US299 during their press conference at Gamescom yesterday. The price drop is immediate, and the new model will come in September.

Are original PS3 console supplies drying up worldwide?
The rumour: Stores around the world have been reporting a lack of original PS3 units with no new shipments in sight.
Our verdict: Confirmed. This was to make room for the new PS3 slim units shipping next month.

Would the PS3 Slim be ready by July?
The rumour: Taiwanese site UDN stated that Sony had contracts with two companies to produce the PS3 slim, and that it would be ready by July.
Our verdict:Likely correct. While the PS3 Slim isn’t being released to the public until September, in order to have units ready to ship to media outlets, the systems surely needed to be ready by July.

Were those first pictures of the PS3 casing and box real?
The rumour: In May, pictures of a redesigned PS3 started popping up on message boards in China. They appeared to be from a production plant.
Our verdict: They were real. After posting the pictures, we received a cease-and-desist order from a Taiwanese law firm. Sony never commented. The pictures are very similar (if not identical to) the images released by Sony during Gamescom. The unboxing we posted seems shows the same box, as well.

Was that a real PS3 Slim being sold in the video of the Filipino marketplace?
The rumour: A marketplace in the Philippines was selling a PS3 Slim back in July.
Our verdict: Iffy. While the console in the video closely resembles the one Sony revealed (down to having no card reader, two USB ports, and a new logo), we cannot determine whether or not it was a counterfeit.

Does the PS3 Slim have backwards compatibility?
The rumour: Only a few early models of the PS3 had the ability to play PS2 games, and many hoped that the PS3 Slim would bring that back.
Our verdict: False. SCEA director of marketing John Koller told us that customers were focusing on their PlayStation 3 systems, and that backwards compatibility would not be reintroduced.

Is there a 250GB PS3 Slim As Well?
The rumour: FCC reports include a 250GB model of the PS3’s slimmer model. Nothing has been announced about it, but it might be coming.
Our verdict: Possible. The FCC’s documents have provided valuable insight into the future of hardware before.

The main reason, though? World of Warcraft, obviously. At least, that’s the opinion of Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate. In a speech to the Practicing Law Institute last week she cited a recent FCC survey,

“You might find it alarming that one of the top reasons for college drop-outs in the U.S. is online gaming addiction – such as World of Warcraft – which is played by 11 million individuals worldwide”

FCC Commissioner Terms WoW a Leading Cause of College Dropouts [Game Politics]

AK8CBEH1101 Report [FCC via NeoGAF - thanks, Elaine!]

That could mean that 40 GB, 60 GB and 80 GB models would be on store shelves during the shopping season, with stock of the PlayStation 2 compatible 60 GB version selling until it runs dry on stock. Then we could kiss PS2 gameplay on future PS3s goodbye forever.

Specifics on the new model are scarce, the FCC only revealing that Bluetooth and wireless LAN functions are still present in the CECHH01 model.

FCC Filing Provides Peek at New PlayStation 3 Model [DailyTech - Thanks Nick!]