Welcome to our monthly update on significant FCC actions and filing deadlines. The FCC continues to repeal outdated rules and adopt new rules to streamline its regulatory processes. New and proposed rules may significantly affect your business. Please let us know if you want additional details about compliance requirements or would like to file comments on proposed rules to protect and promote your company's interests.
Latest Signals from the FCC
This newsletter covers the FCC's July and August 2025 meetings which occurred within weeks of each other.
FCC July 24, 2025 Open Meeting
The following items were approved at the July Open Commission Meeting:
- Accelerating Upgrade Away from Old Copper Line Networks – This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks comment on deregulatory options, including revising network change disclosure requirements and streamlining Section214(a) discontinuance procedures. The goal is to reduce regulatory barriers and costs, encouraging carriers to expedite the transition from copper-wired systems to next generation broadband communication networks, while ensuring emergency service continuity. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Removing Barriers to Broadband Deployment and Investment – This Report and NPRM aims to enhance collaboration between utilities and attachers, establish firm timelines for pole attachment requests, streamline contractor approval and attachment workflows, and clarify the definition of "pole" under Section 224. The NPRM seeks comment on ways to facilitate processing pf pole attachment applications to enable faster high speed broadband deployment, especially in underserved or rural areas. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Moving Closer to AWS-3 Spectrum Auction – This Report and Order updates 10-year-old AWS-3 service-specific designated entity eligibility requirements. The updated rules align with current competitive bidding practices and include provisions for tribal trust relationships, including support for a tribal window in future actions. The new rules are effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Streamlined Repeal of Outdated and Obsolete Rules – This Direct Final Rule repeals certain FCC rules identified as outdated through a streamlined deletion process, while clarifying how the direct final rule procedure may be used for future revisions.
- Improved Truth-in-Billing and Slamming Rules – This NPRM proposes changes to modernize and simplify the FCC's slamming and Truth-in-Billing regulations. This aims to adapt these consumer protections to the evolving telecommunications marketplace, preserve safeguards against unauthorized carrier switches, and eliminate outdated burdens that deter innovation. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- 988 Text Georouting to Improve Access to the 988 Lifeline – This Report and Order requires wireless providers to transmit geolocation data with text messages sent to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This enables routing to the most appropriate local crisis center based on a user's general location (rather than phone area code), significantly improving access to timely crisis support. The new rules are effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
FCC August 7, 2025 Open Meeting
The following items were approved at the August Open Commission Meeting:
- Revamping NEPA Review to Accelerate Infrastructure Deployment – This NPRM aims to overhaul the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to accelerate permitting and high-speed infrastructure bills. The proposed changes aim to streamline reviews for wireless and broadband infrastructure projects, reducing delays and aligning FCC rules with updated federal requirements. Comments will be due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Streamlining Space Bureau Reviews – This Report and Order focuses on streamlining space licensing rules. The reforms simplify and expedite application processes for space and earth stations, allow operators to modify licenses more easily, and eliminate outdated requirements. These changes are designed to boost innovation in the growing U.S. space economy by reducing regulatory delays and costs. The FCC will announce the effective date of the new rules by Public Notice.
- Accelerating Buildout of Secure Undersea Cable Infrastructure – This Report and Order modernizes submarine cable regulations to speed deployment of high-speed undersea cable infrastructure. The reforms aim to reduce administrative delays and simplify the application process, supporting critical international data transmission networks. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Examining the Nation's Alerting Systems – This NPRM initiates a comprehensive, ground-up evaluation of the nation's alerting systems, including the Emergency Alert System, (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The FCC seeks comment on goals for the alerting systems, whether the goals are bring met, and steps needed to modernize the alerting systems to ensure that public's needs are met in an evolving technological landscape. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Deleting 98 Obsolete Broadcast Rules and Requirements– This Direct Final Rule eliminates 98 outdated or unnecessary FCC broadcast regulations under the "Delete, Delete, Delete" initiative. Comments are due 20 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The following items were adopted prior to the August Open Meeting and removed from the meeting agenda:
- Evaluating the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications – Through this Notice of Inquiry the Commission initiates its annual evaluation of whether advanced telecommunications capabilities are being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely manner, as mandated by section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The inquiry seeks public input on current deployment status, challenges faced by providers and consumers, and potential policy measures to accelerate infrastructure expansion. Comments are due September 8, 2025.
- Modernizing the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) – Through this NPRM the FCC looks to modernize the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) with the goal of reducing reporting burdens on communication providers during disasters. The FCC proposes rules to streamline reporting processes so providers can receive useful disaster information while not imposing unreasonable administrative burdens on stakeholders. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- Addressing Business Data Services Pricing Regulations – This NPRM looks to eliminate rate regulation and tariffing obligations for legacy circuit-based business data services provided by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). This change represents a major update to existing regulations, aiming to reflect current market and technological realities while easing regulatory burdens on providers. The proposals are designed to encourage a more competitive market environment by removing outdated pricing controls. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
September Filing Requirements
FCC Broadband Data Collection Report (BDC Report)
- Who: Facilities-based providers of fixed and/or mobile broadband internet access service or mobile voice service with at least one end user and all providers of fixed voice service (including local telephone service providers and interconnected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service providers with at least one end user.
- What: BDC Report collects broadband availability and other data on a semi-annual basis (data as of June 30 is reported by September 1 and data as of December 31 is reported by March 1). Each filing must include information about the filer and, depending on the type of filer, broadband availability data (including supporting data), broadband subscription data, voice availability data, and/or voice subscription data.
- When: September 1, 2025.
- How: Filers submit the report through the Broadband Data Collection System.
FCC Annual Regulatory Fees
- Who: Broadcast licensees, wireless licensees, wireline and VoIP providers, satellite and earth station operations, and international services.
- What: Regulatory fees must be paid for authorizations that were granted on or before October 1, 2024. Failure to meet the regulatory fee payment deadline will result in the assessment of late payment penalties, set by statute at 25%.
- When: September 26, 2025.
- How: All regulatory fee payors are required to use CORES for fee filing.
FCC and Telecom: Next Transmissions
The Commission's next meeting is scheduled for September 30, 2025.
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