FCC Asks Public: Please Help Us Reduce Our Paperwork
Published Date: 12/15/2025
Notice
Summary
The FCC is checking in on some paperwork rules to make sure they’re still useful and not too much work, especially for small businesses. They want your thoughts by February 13, 2026, to help keep things clear and easy. This review affects over 4,000 businesses and involves about 24,600 hours of work yearly, but it won’t cost anyone extra money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Paperwork Burden on ~4,100 Businesses
The FCC is reviewing an information collection (OMB 3060-0548) that currently covers 4,103 business respondents and 49,236 responses. The collection is estimated to cause 24,618 total annual burden hours and a total annual cost of no cost; the FCC seeks comments by February 13, 2026 on ways to reduce this paperwork burden, including impacts on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Customer-Service Collection Burden on Operators/Governments
The FCC is also reviewing a separate collection (OMB 3060-0652) that lists 540 respondents and 1,102,100 responses, with an estimated 34,650 total annual burden hours and no total annual cost. The agency requests comments by February 13, 2026 on reducing burden and improving clarity, including for small entities.
Cable Subscribers Get Must-Carry Info & Notices
Cable systems must keep a public file listing all broadcast TV stations they carry and must respond in writing within 30 days to any written request for identification of signals carried. Operators must notify subscribers by June 2, 1993 and annually thereafter, and to each new subscriber at installation, about stations that cannot be viewed without a converter box and offer to sell or lease a converter box.
Required Customer Service Notices and Billing Rules
Cable operators must provide written information at installation, at least annually, and on request about products, prices, installation and maintenance policies, channel positions, and billing and complaint procedures. Operators must give subscribers at least 30 days' advance written notice of rate or service changes (or as soon as possible if outside the operator's control) that includes the precise amount and an explanation, and must respond to written billing disputes within 30 days. Local franchise authorities must give affected cable operators 90 days' written notice before enforcing customer service standards.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-13724 — Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking the public and other agencies to comment on a paperwork update that aims to make things 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 (OMB) to keep collecting this info. Comments are due by August 7, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!
2026-13725 — Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
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 to reduce the burden, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Comments are due by August 7, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to help shape these changes!
2026-13765 — Review of Submarine Cable Landing License Rules and Procedures To Assess Evolving National Security, Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, and Trade Policy Risks
The FCC just updated the rules for companies that want to land submarine cables—those underwater internet highways—on U.S. shores. These changes help protect national security, law enforcement, and trade interests by requiring new info from applicants. The new rules kick in on July 8, 2026, so affected companies should get ready to share more details, but no new fees are mentioned.
2026-13593 — Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
The FCC is checking in on some paperwork rules to make sure they’re useful and not too tricky, especially for small businesses. They want your thoughts on how to make these forms easier and better, with a deadline to share ideas by September 4, 2026. This review affects about 200 businesses and nonprofits, each spending around 2 hours on these forms.
2026-13601 — Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is checking in to make sure its paperwork rules are clear and not too tough on businesses, nonprofits, and local governments. They want your thoughts on how to keep info collection useful but easy, especially for small businesses. You’ve got until September 4, 2026, to share your ideas—so don’t miss out on shaping the future of FCC forms!
2026-13518 — Prohibiting Importation and Marketing of Previously Authorized Covered Communications Equipment Added to the Covered List in 2024 or Earlier
Starting July 16, 2026, the FCC is banning the import and sale of certain communications gear that was once allowed but now poses security risks. This affects companies dealing with equipment added to the risky list in 2024 or earlier, stopping them from bringing in or marketing these products. The move helps protect U.S. safety without canceling past approvals, but it means businesses must adjust quickly to avoid losses.
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Previous: 2025-22713 — Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Delegated Authority
The FCC is checking in on some paperwork rules to make sure they’re easy and useful for businesses and nonprofits, especially small ones. They want your thoughts on how to keep these forms clear and not too time-consuming. If you have ideas or concerns, speak up by February 13, 2026, so the FCC can keep things running smoothly without costing too much time or money.
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