FCC Seeks Input to Cut Paperwork Hassle for Tiny Businesses
Published Date: 12/1/2025
Notice
Summary
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and other agencies to share their thoughts on a paperwork update that could make life easier, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. They want to reduce the hassle of filling out forms and need approval from the Office of Management and Budget by the end of 2025. If you have ideas or concerns, now’s the time to speak up before December 31, 2025!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
24‑Hour Traceback for Gateway Providers
If you are a gateway voice service provider, you must fully respond to a traceback request within 24 hours of receipt. The rule says the 24‑hour clock runs only during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday–Friday, excluding federal legal holidays) and requests received outside business hours are deemed received at 8:00 a.m. on the next business day.
All Voice Providers Must Respond
All voice service providers (originating, terminating, or intermediate) are required to respond fully and in a timely manner to traceback requests from the FCC, civil or criminal law enforcement, and the industry traceback consortium. This places a duty on every covered provider to cooperate with traceback efforts.
Mandatory Robocall Mitigation Steps
The Commission adopted robocall mitigation requirements including mandatory blocking, a 'know your upstream provider' requirement, and a general mitigation requirement to prevent foreign‑originated illegal robocalls from reaching consumers.
Paperwork Burden on For‑Profit Respondents
The FCC seeks OMB approval to extend this information collection (OMB Control Number 3060-1303) covering 6,493 respondents and 311,664 responses, with an estimated 0.25 hours per response and a total annual burden of 77,916 hours; total annual cost is listed as "No cost." The FCC also requests specific comment on reducing burden for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees and sets a comment deadline of December 31, 2025.
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