FCC Asks If Its Own Paperwork Actually Matters
Published Date: 12/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The FCC is checking in on some paperwork rules to make sure they’re still useful and not too much of a hassle, especially for small businesses. They want your thoughts by February 10, 2026, to help keep things clear and easy. This review won’t cost businesses extra but aims to keep the process smooth and fair for everyone involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Paperwork Burden on Businesses
If you are a business or other for‑profit that must respond to this FCC collection (OMB Control No. 3060-0760), the notice says there are 13 respondents and 66 responses, with each response taking about 3 to 80 hours. The collection’s total annual burden is 1,256 hours and total annual cost is $68,640, and responding is “required to obtain or retain benefits.” Comments on minimizing burden are due by February 10, 2026.
Business Data Services Pricing Changes
The document describes the FCC's Business Data Services reforms that say packet-based services, time division multiplexing (TDM) services with bandwidth greater than 45 mbps, and TDM transport services are not subject to ex ante pricing regulation. It also says a price cap local exchange carrier (LEC) is not subject to ex ante pricing regulation in counties deemed competitive or where Phase II pricing flexibility was previously obtained, and that the Commission will update the competitive market test every three years using data from FCC Form 477.
Limits on Contract Filing Requirements
The notice states the Business Data Services Order repealed section 1.774 and added section 1.776 to limit the circumstances in which price cap LECs must file business data services contracts as contract-based tariffs, and it amended section 69.701 so pricing flexibility rules no longer apply to business data services. These are changes to filing and tariff rules for affected carriers and firms.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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