FCC Seeks Input on Simplifying Business Paperwork Rules
Published Date: 5/8/2026
Notice
Summary
The FCC is checking in on its paperwork rules for businesses to make sure they’re useful and not too much work. They want your thoughts on how to keep things clear, cut down on hassle, and help small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. If you have ideas, send them in by July 7, 2026—this could save time and keep the system running smoothly!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Current Paperwork Burden: Hours and Respondents
The FCC says OMB Control Number 3060-1247 covers Part 32 accounting paperwork for business respondents. There are 854 respondents with 1,696 responses, each taking about 20–40 hours, for a total annual burden of 51,360 hours and no reported annual dollar cost.
Part 32 GAAP Election Reduces Accounting Burden
Under the Part 32 Order, price cap carriers may elect to use generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for regulatory accounting, which the FCC says minimizes compliance burdens by consolidating Class A and B accounts so carriers keep only Class B accounts. The GAAP election involves creating an Implementation Rate Difference (IRD) and adjusting GAAP-based pole attachment rates by the IRD for 12 years.
Rate-of-Return Carriers Can Shift to Incentive Regulation
Rate-of-return carriers receiving model-based or other fixed high-cost support may voluntarily elect to transition business services from rate-of-return regulation to incentive regulation; carriers that elect and use GAAP are relieved of virtually all USOA filing and recordkeeping requirements except data provisioning needed to calculate pole attachment rates.
Deadline to Comment on Paperwork Burden
If you are a business or member of the public, you can send comments about the FCC's paperwork rules by July 7, 2026. The FCC specifically asks for ideas to reduce burden on small businesses with fewer than 25 employees and to improve clarity and use of automated techniques.
Pole Attachment Data Submission Requirement
If a pole attacher notifies the Commission of a suspected problem with pole attachment rates, the FCC will require the relevant price cap carrier to file pole attachment accounting data for that state for three years; the Commission may extend that requirement for an additional three years if necessary.
Ongoing Property Records and Depreciation Obligations
Carriers that remain subject to Part 32 must continue to maintain continuing property records sufficient to track substantial assets and investments, must make that property information available to the Commission upon request, and must continue to follow Part 32 depreciation and cost-of-removal-and-salvage accounting rules.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16995, Information Collection Being Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for Emergency Review and Approval
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
2026-16993, Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
2026-16997, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
2026-16996, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is asking for public feedback on a new paperwork collection related to space launch coordination. This affects businesses, nonprofits, and governments who might spend 4 to 16 hours filling out forms. Comments are due by October 19, 2026, helping the FCC reduce hassle and improve the process without extra costs.
2026-16740, Information Collection Being Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for Emergency Review and Approval
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
2026-16615, Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions-2026
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review (Sep. 30, 1993), requires each agency to publish a regulatory agenda (Agenda) of regulations under development or review during the next year which will be included in the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda). 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). The Agenda required by Executive Order 12866 must include all regulations the agency expects to develop or review during the next 12 months, regardless of whether they may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Executive Order 12866 provides that agencies may combine this agenda with the regulatory flexibility agenda required under the RFA. To help keep the public informed of significant rulemaking proceedings and meet its obligations under the RFA and Executive Order 12866, the Commission has prepared Agenda entries providing a brief description and summary of each regulatory activity that is currently planned for the 12 months, subject to revision, including the objectives and legal basis for each, and the name and telephone number of an agency official who is knowledgeable about items in the agenda. The Commission's Agenda entries published in the Federal Register are only those entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities pursuant to the RFA. The Commission's complete list of regulatory and deregulatory actions for the Unified Agenda will be published on the internet in a searchable format at www.reginfo.gov.
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