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!
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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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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.
2026-16590, FCC To Review E-Rate Program To Ensure Congress's Vision
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on measures the Commission can take to better protect children when using E-Rate-funded networks, the Commission's progress in ensuring affordable access to high-speed broadband to and within schools and libraries, and whether the Commission's current interpretation of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the best reading of the statute. The Commission also proposes actions to strengthen E-Rate program integrity and streamline program administration.
2026-16503, Empowering Broadband Consumers Through Transparency
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) eliminates or modifies certain broadband label requirements to ensure that consumers have clear, accurate, and concise information when shopping for broadband plans. Specifically, the Commission enables providers to describe label information in a natural, conversational style over the phone; simplify fee presentation to avoid clutter; remove outdated information from the label; use links or icons at point-of-sale to avoid unwieldy amounts of information that can overwhelm consumers; and eliminate requirements that go beyond our mandate. At the same time, the Commission ensures the labels remain accessible to people with disabilities, and that labels are displayed in the same language(s) used when marketing a service.
2026-16294, Privacy Act System of Records
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to modify an existing system of records, FCC/CGB-1, Informal Complaints, Inquiries, and Requests for Dispute Assistance, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency. The Commission uses records in this system to handle and process informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance received from individuals, groups, and other entities. This modification makes various necessary changes and updates to accommodate new uses of the system to share certain anonymized or de-identified complaint data with the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network.
2026-16298, Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
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. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB control number.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-09567, Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request
The Office of Minority Health wants to keep collecting info through its Think Cultural Health website, which helps health pros learn about cultural and language differences. They’re asking the public to share thoughts by June 12, 2026, to make sure the process is easy and useful. This is just an extension—no new costs or big changes, just keeping the helpful tools going strong!
Next: 2026-09569, Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
The FCC is asking the public and businesses to share their thoughts on how it collects information to make sure it’s useful and not too much work. They want to reduce paperwork, especially for small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. If you want to comment, you’ve got until July 13, 2026, so don’t miss out on shaping how the FCC works!