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federal-communications-commission

(22 articles)

Open for Comment: Radio Broadcasting Services; Whitehall, Michigan

Federal Communications Commission — This document requests comments on a proposal to amend the Table of FM Allotments, by substituting Channel 258A for vacant Channel 248A at Whitehall, Michigan. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 258A can be allotted to Whitehall consistent with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements, with a site restriction of 13 kilometers (8.1 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 43-28-30 NL and 86-27-38 WL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. (56 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Facilitating Implementation of Next Generation 911 Services (NG911); Improving 911 Reliability

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the FCC or Commission) proposes rules to enhance Next Generation 911 (NG911) interoperability and improve NG911 accessibility. Specifically, the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes requiring NG911 service providers to conduct multi-party interstate interoperability testing of 911 traffic. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking also seeks comment about how 911 Authorities can integrate advanced technology such as Direct Video Calling into NG911 networks to improve accessibility. (29 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Enhancing Know-Your-Upstream-Provider Requirements and Strengthening STIR/SHAKEN (Call Authentication Trust Anchor; Advanced Methods To Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls)

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes steps to strengthen its robocall mitigation framework by enhancing Know-Your-Upstream-Provider (KYUP) requirements, improving oversight of voice service providers by the STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority, raising caller ID attestation standards, and closing implementation gaps in STIR/SHAKEN implementation. Specifically, the Commission proposes establishing baseline KYUP information-collection, compliance review, verification, monitoring, and responsive-action requirements to ensure providers can identify and cut off bad-actor upstream providers. The Commission also proposes measures to expand the Governance Authority's vetting, enforcement, and reporting responsibilities to prevent misuse of STIR/SHAKEN certificates and to remove noncompliant providers from the authentication ecosystem. The Commission further proposes clarifying and strengthening STIR/SHAKEN attestation rules, including codifying attestation levels, defining improper attestations, and specifying permissible mechanisms for verifying number-to-customer associations. Additionally, the Commission proposes and seeks comment on additional steps to close caller ID authentication gaps, such as refining provider definitions, reconsidering exemptions, requiring providers serving end users to assign STIR/SHAKEN attestations, and ensuring calls maintain authentication information. The Commission also seeks comment on special circumstances, including addressing issues with foreign- originated calls. (31 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Television Broadcasting Services Alamogordo, New Mexico

Federal Communications Commission — This document proposes to amend the Table of TV Allotments (table) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules by substituting channel *11 for *4 at Alamogordo, New Mexico in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Vision Broadcasting Network, Inc. (Petitioner), the permittee of a new NCE television station KAVD(TV) (KAVD or Station), channel *4, Alamogordo, New Mexico (Alamogordo). In support of its channel substitution request, the Petitioner asserts that allowing the Station to move to a high VHF channel would serve the public interest by improving signal reception for viewers. The Petitioner observes that the Commission has recognized that low-VHF channels have certain characteristics that have posed challenges for their use in providing digital television service. The staff engineering analysis finds that the proposal is in compliance with the Commission's principal community coverage and technical requirements. (47 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program; Delete, Delete, Delete

Federal Communications Commission — 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. (61 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics Seek Comment on Proposed 2026 Mandatory Data Collection for Incarcerated People's Communications Services

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seek comment on the contours and specific requirements of the proposed 2026 Mandatory Data Collection for incarcerated people's communications services (IPCS). Consistent with the Commission's direction, in this document, we seek comment on proposals to modify the Commission's previous data collection to obtain data and information necessary for the Commission to set permanent rate caps for audio and video ICPS and, to the extent practicable, lessen the reporting burdens on ICPS providers. (47 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Radio Broadcasting Services; Selmer, Tennessee

Federal Communications Commission — In this document the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) requests comments on a proposal to amend the Table of FM Allotments, by deleting vacant Channel 288A at Selmer, Tennessee, because it does not comply with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 288A at Selmer, Tennessee is short-spaced to Station WVNA-FM by nine kilometers, and there are no alternate channels available to alleviate the existing spacing conflict that would comply with the Commission's spacing requirements. The proposed Selmer deletion is consistent with the Commission's policy that it will not retain a vacant FM channel that would not comply with the Commission's spacing requirements. (38 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Reforming the High-Cost Program for an All-IP Future, Connect America Fund: A National Broadband Plan for Our Future High-Cost Universal Support

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that kicks off a process to examine how the Commission can make some of its high-cost mechanisms even more efficient and effective into the future. Ensuring a predictable High-Cost Program for years to come--call it High-Cost Modernization--will provide continuing support for our Build America Agenda, supercharge American leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) by efficiently supporting the broadband-capable networks upon which AI-enhanced applications and services will be delivered and accessed, and will help accelerate the transition to Internet Protocol (IP) networks. (90 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Enhancing Know-Your-Customer Requirements

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes actions to provide additional clarity to fill the gap between its current Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement and the types of rigorous KYC steps necessary to protect consumers. Specifically, the Commission seeks comment on customer identification requirements for new and renewing customers, requirements for verifying, retaining, and re-verifying customer information, requiring more information from certain customers such as high-volume customers, and on how these efforts can complement call branding and caller name requirements the Commission may adopt. The Commission also proposes to assess penalties for violations of the KYC requirement on a per call basis. With this inquiry, the Commission aims to make it more difficult for scammers to originate illegal calls and easier to enforce against them when they do get onto the network. (62 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Accessible Emergency Information, and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Commission proposes to revise the Audible Crawl Rule, which requires video programming providers and distributors to make non-textual visual emergency information provided during non-newscast programming accessible via a secondary audio stream. The revised rule would provide that the accessibility requirement is met if a textual crawl provides emergency information duplicative of or equivalent to non-textual visual emergency information, so long as the textual crawl is also conveyed aurally. (26 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Auction of FM Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for February 2, 2027; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 114

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (the Commission or FCC) announces an auction of certain FM broadcast construction permits. The Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) and the Media Bureau (MB) seek comment on minimum opening bid amounts and the procedures to be used for this auction, which is designated as Auction 114. (24 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Promoting the Integrity and Security of Telecommunications Certification Bodies, Measurement Facilities, and the Equipment Authorization Program

Federal Communications Commission — The Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) issues a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to cease recognition of test labs, Testing Certification Bodies (TCBs), and laboratory accreditation bodies in non-MRA or trade agreement participants (i.e., non-Reciprocal Territories). The Commission also seeks comment on modernizing data analytics capabilities, and explores additional measures to protect intellectual property and national security. (60 days remaining)

comment-periodcomment-periodregulationfederal-communications-commission

Open for Comment: Combatting Illegal Robocalls Through FCC Numbering Policies; Implementation of TRACED Act-Knowledge of Customers by Entities With Access to Numbering Resources

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) seeks comment on whether to adopt changes to its numbering policies with respect to how assigned numbering resources are utilized, reported, and resold by service providers as part of its continuing effort to combat illegal robocalls. The Commission explores and proposes a broad array of solutions to strengthen the Commission's numbering requirements and policies, particularly as they relate to resellers that use numbering resources to engage in some of the most extensive illegal robocalling schemes. (59 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Protecting Against National Security Threats in Domestic Telecommunications Service

Federal Communications Commission — The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-124, 134 Stat. 158 (2020) (codified as amended at 47 U.S.C. 1601-1609)) mandates that the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) publish and maintain a list of communications equipment and services (i.e., the Covered List) that have been determined by agencies with national security responsibilities to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of U.S. persons. In this document, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to exclude entities identified on the "Covered List" from providing domestic interstate telecommunications services pursuant to blanket authority under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (47 U.S.C. 214). The NPRM also seeks comment on other potential exclusions from blanket authority under section 214 and other related measures. (60 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2026

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on revising the fee schedule of FY 2026 regulatory fees and on several additional regulatory fee issues, as described in the text below. (20 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Improving Customer Service and Protecting Consumers Through Onshoring

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes actions that would encourage and facilitate the onshoring of foreign call centers. Specifically, the Commission proposes rules and otherwise explore ways to improve customer service communications and better protect consumers' sensitive personal information by limiting use of foreign call centers and by improving standards applicable to a company's remaining foreign call center operations. It also seeks comment on extending these protections to modes of customer service communications other than calls, such as emails, texts, and on-line chats, and on ideas to deter scam and other unlawful calls made to the United States from foreign countries. Finally, it explore steps we can take to financially deter unlawful foreign-originated calls, such as bond requirements. The Commission proposes to apply these requirements to providers of telecommunications services, CMRS, interconnected VoIP service, cable television service, and DBS services, or affiliates of such providers. It also proposes to apply these requirements to the use of foreign call centers for consumer communications relating to internet access service offered by any of the foregoing providers or their affiliates and seeks comment on whether it should extend some or all of the proposed rules to providers of other types of services. (29 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Refreshes Record on Lower C-Band Petitions for Reconsideration

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks to refresh the record on pending petitions for reconsideration of the Commission's 2020 Report and Order in the Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band rulemaking (2020 C- band R&O) in light of certain technical proposals in the 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz) rulemaking (Upper C-band NPRM) and the responsive record thereto, seeking a harmonized approach across the entire C-band. (17 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes additional safeguards to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse, including additional mandatory reporting requirements, and proposes to extend the Commission's suspension and debarment framework to additional programs. A Final Rule relating to the Commission's adoption of revised suspension and debarment rules is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. (60 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or we) looks to bring spectrum abundance for emergent space activities. "Emergent" or "emergent space operations" are those spacecraft or commercial operations in space that use radio spectrum for control of, or communications with, a spacecraft, but which are not communications satellites. Currently there is an acute shortage of usable and readily accessible spectrum for telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) functions that are essential for operating emergent spacecraft. Accordingly, this document seeks to clarify and expand the Commission's traditional regulatory classifications so that emergent space operations have more predictable access to spectrum. Additionally, this document proposes to add a secondary allocation for the Space Operation Service (SOS) in spectrum bands that could support emergent space activities, particularly in frequency bands allocated for non-Federal use that may be lightly used in certain geographic areas. This document also proposes to allow existing licensees to lease their spectrum to earth station licensees to provide SOS in connection with emergent spacecraft. (60 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization; Bridging the Digital Divide for Low-Income Consumers; Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service Support; Affordable Connectivity Program; Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks to ensure that Lifeline services are used to benefit and support eligible low-income Americans, that the program's funding is protected from waste, fraud, and abuse, and that service providers are in compliance with Commission rules. The Commission also seeks to update and streamline Lifeline and related rules. (29 days remaining)

comment-periodcomment-periodregulationfederal-communications-commission

Open for Comment: Reforming Legacy Rules for an All-IP Future; Accelerating Network Modernization

Federal Communications Commission — In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to accelerate network modernization by proposing to reform regulations that have hindered the transition to all-internet Protocol (IP) networks. Building upon the Commission's longstanding efforts to reform the legacy intercarrier compensation (ICC) framework, the Commission proposes to move remaining ICC charges to a bill-and-keep framework and detariff them, and invites comment on this proposal. To enable carriers to recover costs from their end users, the Commission proposes to eliminate ex ante pricing regulation and tariffing of end-user charges, also referred to as Telephone Access Charges (TACs). Following the transition of ICC charges to bill-and-keep, the Commission seeks comment on phasing out Connect America Fund Intercarrier Compensation (CAF ICC) support. The NPRM also seeks comment on removing remaining regulatory obligations--including tariffing and outdated account information exchange requirements--for interstate and international long-distance services, given the longstanding competitiveness of these markets. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on the elimination of regulations that will no longer be necessary in a post-Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) environment and invites input on a transitional framework to ensure regulatory and market stability during the shift to an all-IP marketplace. Finally, the Commission encourages commenters to identify ways to promote technological modernization while enhancing long-term efficiency, competition, and service quality for consumers. In all these reforms, the Commission intends to proceed thoughtfully, mindful of the complex issues, transition timelines, and paramount connectivity goals. (90 days remaining)

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Open for Comment: Internet-Based Telecommunications Relay Service Modernization

Federal Communications Commission — The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to modernize its telecommunications relay services (TRS) rules and seeks comment on the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) for speech-to- text conversion and advanced text-to-speech technologies for Internet Protocol (IP) Relay Service; the need for metrics for IP Relay quality; the compatibility of IP Relay with Real-Time Text (RTT) technology; adding captioning functionality to Video Relay Service (VRS) platforms; amending VRS calling rules for calls to U.S. embassies and consulates by U.S. residents while traveling abroad; adjusting VRS call center requirements; streamlining TRS provider certification and user registration processes; updating or eliminating obsolete rules; and closing outdated dockets. With these proposals, the Commission presents targeted reforms that align internet-based TRS with twenty-first century technological advancements in relay services that can better serve the needs of persons with disabilities while securing the viability and enhancing the effectiveness and functional equivalency of internet-based TRS. (28 days remaining)

comment-periodcomment-periodregulationfederal-communications-commission