Welcome to our monthly update on significant FCC actions and filing deadlines. New rulemaking proceeding activity at the agency may significantly affect your business. Please let us know if you want additional details or would like to file comments to protect and promote your company's interests in any of these rulemakings.
Latest Signals from the FCC
Commissioner Quorum Restored
- On June 17, the Senate confirmed Olivia Trusty to serve as Commissioner. Trusty was confirmed to complete the remainder of former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's term through June 30 and another for a full five-year term to follow. This vote reestablishes a quorum on the Commission, enabling it to fully exercise its functions and powers.
FCC Extends Next-Gen 911 Comment Deadlines
- On July 8, the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) extended the comment and reply comment dates for the Facilitating Implementation of Next Generation 911 Services (NG911), Improving 911 Reliability FNPRM to August 4, 2025, and September 17, 2025, respectively. The FCC found that a "moderate extension of the initial comment deadline will provide additional time for parties to organize and coordinate their input to the commission."
FCC Actions
The following items were approved at the June Open Commission Meeting:
- Removing Obsolete and Unworkable Cable Television Rate
Rules – This Report and Order adopts rules that will deliver
on the administration's call for agencies to unleash prosperity
through deregulation by removing approximately 27 pages containing
rules or requirements and forms from its cable rate regulations
that have been rendered obsolete or unworkable. This action is one
of the first steps in the FCC's deregulation initiative that
will facilitate network modernization, infrastructure development,
and performance innovation.
- Modernizing TTY Rules for Individuals with Hearing and
Speech Disabilities – This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes an
update to the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) standards to
be more consistent with current usage of TTY-based relay services.
In this proceeding, the FCC looks to delete the requirement for TRS
providers to support the ASCII format of text telephony (TTY)
technology on analog telephone networks. The FCC notes that
deletion of the ASCII format requirement would enable TTY-based TRS
providers to avoid unnecessary costs that are passed on to the TRS
Fund.
- Streamlining Engineering Review for Broadband Data – This Order eliminated an unnecessary barrier to providing reliable broadband data for inclusion on the FCC's National Broadband Map. This action provides clarity and reduces costs for filers and removes the need for additional waivers which safeguards agency resources. Previously, FCC rules required providers to certify data via a corporate officer and a "certified professional engineer". In reality, very few engineers are certified in RF engineering, making it difficult and costly for providers to meet this requirement. Eliminating this criterion for certification better aligns with market realities, while still ensuring the FCC receives accurate data from filers.
Reply comments are due soon for the following item adopted by the Commission "on circulation":
- Clearing Dormant Proceedings – On May 2, 2025, the Commission released a Public Notice announcing that it plans to terminate over 2,000 official dormant proceedings that the Commission determined no longer serves a purpose for the American people. The Commission is seeking comment on reasons not to terminate the listed dockets. Comments due July 9, 2025; replies due August 8, 2025.
Reply comments are due soon for the following item the Commission released last month:
- Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2025 – On June 5, the Commission released its annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on the regulatory fees and methodology to assess and collect the $390,192,000 in congressionally required regulatory fees for FY 2025. Comments due July 7, 2025; replies due July 21, 2025.
Summer Filing Requirements
FCC Form 655
- Who: Certain manufacturers of wireless handsets that fall under the Commission's definition of "Device Manufacturers".
- What: Covered entities must report information about the hearing aid compatibility status of each handset offered, functionalities of hearing aid-compatible handsets, labeling of hearing aid-compatible handsets, and the filing company's consumer outreach efforts.
- When: July 31, 2025.
- How: Carriers must complete and submit Form 655 through the Commission's CORES website.
FCC and Telecom: Next Transmissions
On July 24, the Commission will tentatively consider the following items at its Open Meeting:
- Accelerating Upgrade Away from Old Copper Line
Networks – This rulemaking notice proposes and seeks
comment on revisions to the Commission's network change
disclosure rules and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to
eliminate regulatory barriers and cost. This would encourage the
swift transition to IP-based networks and advanced communications
services for consumers.
- Removing Barriers to Broadband Deployment and
Investment – This Report and Order, Order, and
rulemaking notice will be considered to promote broadband
infrastructure deployment by ensuring greater collaboration between
utilities and attachers, establishing a timeline for large pole
attachment requests, implementing other improvements to the pole
attachment timeline, and speeding up the contractor approval
process.
- Moving Closer to AWS-3 Spectrum Auction
– This would update 10-year-old AWS-3 service-specific
designated entity eligibility requirements to bring those
requirements in line with the Commission's current auctions
process.
- Streamlined Repeal of Outdated and Obsolete
Rules – The Commission will consider a Direct and
Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated
and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure.
- Improved Truth-in Billing and Slamming Rules
– This rulemaking notice proposes to modernize and simplify
the Commission's slamming and Truth-In Billing rules to reflect
the evolution of the telecommunications marketplace, retain core
consumer protections against unauthorized carrier switches and
charges, and reduce regulatory burdens that can stifle
innovation.
- 988 Text Georouting to Improve Access to the 988 Lifeline – This would adopt rules to require wireless providers to transmit data that enables text messages sent to the 988 Lifeline to be routed to the closest local crisis center based on a person's general geographic location.
Navigating the FCC's rules and latest moves? Dial into our expertise and let's discuss your next steps.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
