The unmentioned context here is that Debian is stricter in how they handle binary firmware than most distributions. I believe they refuse to distribute any not under a free software license, most others will ship binary blob firmware.
[1]: https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#the...
[2]: https://packages.debian.org/search?suite=all&arch=any&search...
I don't agree that it's unmentioned context: Debian is currently distributing prior releases of the firmware, Intel released new firmware and changed something in the terms, and the Debian packagers have a problem with the new terms. If anything the unmentioned context is that all too often distros/people just blindly accept changes in license terms where the Debian packagers actually read and evaluate license terms and don't just rubber stamp them. It's useful to everyone that someone is paying attention, even if one disagrees with the Debian position on a given issue.