FCC Calls for Input on Streamlining Network Improvement Paperwork
Published Date: 5/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The FCC is asking businesses and the public to review and comment on their paperwork rules to make sure they’re useful and not too time-consuming. They want to cut down on red tape, especially for small businesses, and are updating some forms related to network improvements. Comments are due by July 13, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in and help save time and money!
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Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
FCC Seeks Comments To Cut Red Tape
The FCC is asking the public to comment on information collection rules to reduce paperwork burdens, with an explicit request to find ways to reduce the burden on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Written comments are due on or before July 13, 2026.
Blanket Grandfathering Authority for Carriers
The FCC granted blanket Section 214(a) authority allowing carriers to grandfather legacy voice services, lower-speed data services (below 25 Mbps download / 3 Mbps upload), and interconnected VoIP provisioned over copper without filing a Section 214 application when grandfathering those services.
Expanded Direct Notice to 911 Stakeholders
Carriers seeking to discontinue services that support interconnection trunks or exchange of traffic must show that at least 90 days before filing they provided a designated point of contact to facilitate transition and directly notified 911 authorities, 911 service providers, and directly interconnecting local exchange carriers in the affected area.
No-Filing Rule When There Are No Customers
Carriers are no longer required to file an application to discontinue, reduce, or impair any service for which they have had no customers and no requests for service for at least a 30-day period immediately preceding the discontinuance. Separately, a carrier may permanently discontinue a service after showing it had emergency discontinuance authority, had no customers or reasonable requests for service during the 60-day period immediately preceding the permanent discontinuance, and that an adequate replacement service is available throughout the affected area.
31-Day Automatic Grant & Streamlining Rules
The FCC applied a uniform 31-day automatic grant period to all discontinuance applications, adopted content requirements for discontinuance applications, and created a consolidated rule for technology-transition discontinuances that makes applications eligible for streamlined processing if the applicant certifies that one or more of five specified replacement-service categories is available throughout the affected area.
Paperwork Burden Estimates and Response Details
The notice provides OMB control numbers and burden estimates: OMB 3060-0149 lists 78 respondents and 90 responses with an estimated 6–10 hours per response totaling 648 annual hours; OMB 3060-0741 lists 4,452 respondents and 450,838 responses with an estimated 0.5–4.5 hours per response totaling 452,623 annual hours. Both collections report 'Total Annual Cost: No cost.'
Conditional Forbearance for Resellers
The Commission granted conditional forbearance relief under Section 214(a) for resellers discontinuing resold services when the reseller's wholesale provider is engaging in a technology transition discontinuance, provided the discontinuing resellers give reasonable notice to their customers.
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