FCC Begs Public: Help Us Cut Our Own Paperwork Madness
Published Date: 2/25/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and small businesses to share their thoughts on how to make government paperwork easier and less time-consuming. They want feedback by March 27, 2026, to help reduce the burden, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. This is part of a bigger effort to keep things simple and efficient without costing extra money or time.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Broadcast auction application costs
Entities that participate in FCC broadcast auctions must submit ownership and bidding exhibits and other data; the FCC estimates 2,000 respondents, 5,350 responses, 6,663 annual hours, and an annual cost burden of $12,332,500 (OMB Control Number 3060-0896). These exhibits determine bidder qualification and bidding credit eligibility.
Cable must‑carry recordkeeping burden
Cable operators must keep public lists of all broadcast stations they carry and respond in writing within 30 days to requests identifying carried signals. The FCC estimates 4,103 business respondents, 49,236 responses, and a total annual burden of 24,618 hours for this collection (OMB Control Number 3060-0548); some notices must be provided by June 2, 1993 and annually thereafter.
Customer service and notice rules for cable
Cable operators must provide written customer information at installation and annually, give 30 days' advance notice of rate or service changes, and respond to billing complaints within 30 days; some required notices may be delivered by email if consumer safeguards are met. The FCC lists OMB Control Number 3060-0652 with 540 respondents, 1,102,100 responses, and a total annual burden of 34,650 hours.
NCE stations fundraising disclosure rules
Noncommercial educational (NCE) stations that interrupt programming to fundraise for third‑party nonprofits must air disclosures at the start, end, and once per hour of a fundraising program and place quarterly fundraising details in the local public inspection file by the 10th day of the following quarter. The FCC lists OMB Control Number 3060-1174 with 2,200 respondents, 33,000 responses, and a total annual burden of 16,500 hours.
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