FCC Aims to Cut Red Tape in Cable and Broadband Rules
Published Date: 6/24/2025
Notice
Summary
The Commission is meeting on June 26, 2025, to make cable TV rules simpler and friendlier, especially for small providers and home users. They’ll also update broadband data rules to cut red tape and modernize how engineers certify reports. Plus, they’re proposing to drop outdated tech rules for relay services, making communication easier for people with hearing and speech disabilities.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Smaller Cable Providers Face Less Red Tape
On June 26, 2025, the Commission will consider a Report and Order to simplify cable rate regulations by eliminating unnecessary forms and rules and deregulating certain cable equipment and small cable systems. This action is intended to reduce regulatory burdens on small cable providers and promote competition and economic growth.
Cable Rules Made Simpler for Home Users
The Commission will consider limiting some cable regulation to residential subscribers and simplifying cable rate rules to make cable TV rules simpler and friendlier for home users. The change aims to streamline rules that affect residential subscribers and reduce regulatory burdens for households that use cable service.
Broadband Data Filings: Engineer Cert Change
The Commission will consider a Report and Order to eliminate the professional engineer certification requirement for biannual Broadband Data Collection filings under section 1.7004(d) and instead allow the biannual filings to be certified by a qualified engineer with relevant minimum experience and education. This change affects organizations that submit the biannual Broadband Data Collection (Digital Opportunity Data Collection) filings.
Relay Rules: Drop Obsolete ASCII Requirement
The Commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to delete the rule requiring telecommunications relay service providers to support the now-obsolete ASCII transmission format (proposed change to 47 CFR 64.604(b)(1)). This aims to modernize relay-service rules and make communication easier for people with hearing and speech disabilities.
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