# 2026-12767: FCC Proposes 'Delete, Delete, Delete' Broadband Rule

2026-12767, Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program; Delete, Delete, Delete, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Federal Communications Commission published 2026-06-24, effective 2026-07-24; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12767
- As of: 2026-07-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12767
- Title: Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program; Delete, Delete, Delete
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Federal Communications Commission
- Citation: 91 FR 37928
- Published: 2026-06-24
- Effective: 2026-07-24
- Comments close: 2026-07-24
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-01

## In one line

FCC Proposes 'Delete, Delete, Delete' Broadband Rule

## Summary

The FCC wants to make broadband data collection easier and less annoying for internet providers by cutting outdated rules and simplifying reports. This affects companies that share internet coverage info, aiming to speed up updates and keep data accurate without extra hassle. They’re asking for feedback now, with changes possibly rolling out soon to save time and money while improving how we track internet access.

## Abstract

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that seeks comment on eliminating outdated requirements and ways to enhance the efficiency of the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) while ensuring that the Commission continues to receive accurate, granular data. Building off the infrastructure data-based coverage restoration process established by the Commission in 2024, the FNPRM seeks comment on several approaches suggested by commenters to simplify, streamline, or otherwise reduce burdens on this coverage restoration process. The FNPRM seeks comment on several ways to simplify the collection of fixed and fixed wireless biannual submissions, specifically on: (1) either allowing providers to indicate certain fixed broadband availability data have been "grandfathered" or else simply eliminating the collection of these data; (2) eliminating the requirement that a provider report fixed broadband availability data at speeds below 25/3 Mbps as part of its biannual submission; (3) revising the Commission's rules to eliminate the requirement for providers to use and disclose maximum buffer size data in their BDC biannual submissions; and (4) revising the Commission's rules to relax the 7 meter antenna height requirement that fixed wireless providers must use when modeling their coverage. In addition, the FNPRM seeks comment on ending legacy data collections for mobile service, specifically the collection of 3G mobile broadband availability data and mobile voice data as part of a provider's biannual submission, including potential impacts on reporting for Alaska and on relevant USF programs, respectively. Furthermore, the FNPRM seeks comment on current data retention practices to develop a set of best practices instead of adopting any substantive rule. The FNPRM seeks comment on several potential challenge process improvements, specifically on: (1) allowing service providers to presumptively rebut certain types of fixed challenges with infrastructure data and on requiring infrastructure data in response to certain types of fixed challenges; (2) various options for simplifying and reducing the provider response periods for the fixed challenge process; (3) streamlining the mobile challenge process by automatically removing from the National Broadband Map (NBM) all challenged areas that are conceded or upheld; and (4) relaxing or removing some current mobile crowdsourced data requirements to encourage the submission of additional data. The FNPRM seeks comment on mobile verification and audit process improvements. The FNPRM also seeks comment on improvements to the collection of mobile crowdsourced data and the use of drone data. Lastly, the FNPRM seeks comment on revising the Commission's rules to expressly provide that subscription data, the geographic coordinates of mobile or fixed wireless base stations, mobile or fixed wireless link budget parameter rationales, and any infrastructure data submitted in response to a verification request or audit will be always treated as confidential.

## Effects PRIA read

- Stop reporting 'grandfathered' fixed service: benefit, medium. If you are a broadband provider, the FCC is asking whether you should no longer have to report ‘‘grandfathered’’ fixed broadband services in the Broadband Data Collection (BDC). The change would let providers omit locations that have service only for existing customers and that the provider no long…
- Drop low‑speed fixed reporting below 25/3 Mbps: cost, medium. The FCC is asking whether fixed broadband providers should no longer be required to report availability for services with maximum advertised speeds below 25/3 Mbps. If adopted, locations with only sub-25/3 Mbps service might no longer appear as served in the National Broadband Map.
- Remove fixed maximum buffer reporting: benefit, low. The FCC is considering removing the requirement that fixed wireline providers report 'maximum buffer' values used to decide whether they can serve a location. Instead the FCC may require those buffer details only during audits, verifications, or restoration requests.
- Relax 7‑meter antenna height rule: mixed, medium. The FCC is asking whether to relax the seven‑meter maximum customer antenna height that fixed wireless providers must use when modeling coverage and whether to allow higher heights (for example, ten meters) or different heights by environment. Providers that model with higher heights might claim br…
- End 3G reporting (possible Alaska carve‑out): mixed, medium. The FCC is considering removing the requirement that providers report 3G mobile broadband availability in BDC filings. The agency notes that most carriers sunset 3G in 2022, only 10 of 52 filers reported 3G in June 2025, and about 74,000 square kilometers of 3G‑only area remains—mostly in Alaska; t…
- Drop mobile voice filing requirement (Alaska concern): mixed, medium. The FCC is asking whether mobile voice availability should no longer be required in BDC biannual submissions because the BDC focuses on broadband, though it notes mobile voice data have been collected for legacy and public safety reasons and asks whether Alaska should continue to report these data…
- Data retention: three‑year rule or guidance: mixed, low. The FCC is considering whether to require providers to retain supporting materials for BDC filings and challenge responses for a defined period (the Fourth FNPRM proposed three years) or instead issue voluntary best‑practice guidance. Commenters suggested two, three, five, or ten years as options.
- Use infrastructure data to rebut fixed challenges: mixed, medium. The FCC is asking whether fixed providers should be allowed to presumptively rebut fixed (including bulk) challenges by submitting infrastructure data directly to staff, or whether infrastructure data should be required for certain bulk challenges. The FNPRM notes this could shorten the 60‑day reso…
- Always treat certain BDC data as confidential: benefit, low. The FCC is proposing to expressly treat subscription data, geographic coordinates of base stations, link‑budget rationales, and infrastructure data submitted for verification or audit as always confidential. This would limit public disclosure of those data elements.
- Allow speed test data to restore mobile coverage: benefit, medium. The FCC seeks comment on permitting mobile providers to submit on‑the‑ground speed test data (in addition to infrastructure data) to restore locations or areas removed from the National Broadband Map. The agency asked whether OEA could announce that mobile providers may submit such test data.

## Related documents

- [2026-20591](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20591): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20590](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20590): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20676](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20676): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Under Delegated Authority, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20607](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20607): Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20681](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20681): Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20486](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20486): Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-10-06

## Sources
- [2026-12767 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12767/establishing-the-digital-opportunity-data-collection-modernizing-the-fcc-form-477-data-program)
- [2026-12767 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12767.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12750, Enterprise Duty To Serve Underserved Markets](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12750)
- [Next: 2026-12784, Request for Comment on the Extension of Standard Futures Contracts to 24/7 Trad…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12784)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12767 (as of 2026-07-01).