FCC Asks if Its Paperwork Is Too Much
Published Date: 7/6/2026
Notice
Summary
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!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Big Time Burden on Broadcasters
If you operate a broadcast station or cable system, the FCC counts 24,178 respondents and expects 67,440 responses for these public inspection and political file rules. The agency estimates each response takes 1 to 52 hours and totals 2,093,127 hours of annual paperwork burden, while reporting "Total Annual Cost: No cost."
Online Political File Record Rules
Broadcast stations and cable systems must keep an online political file that records whether requests to buy time were accepted or rejected, the rate charged, the date/time aired, class of time, the candidate or issue named, buyer contact details, and other specified data. Political-file records must be placed in the online file promptly and retained for two years.
Small Businesses Invited to Seek Burden Relief
The FCC specifically asks for ways to reduce information-collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees and invites comments by September 4, 2026. Small broadcasters and small cable operators can submit suggestions to shape any future paperwork reductions.
Public Access and Disability Assistance Rules
Stations must host public inspection files online, provide a link from their website home page (if they have one), include a station contact for public-file questions, and provide a representative to help persons with disabilities with file content issues.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
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2026-20157, Information Collection Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants your feedback on their plan to collect some info from the public. This is a routine check to make sure the questions they ask are useful and not too much work. If you have thoughts, you’ve got until August 5, 2026, to share them—no cost, just your voice!