Regulations

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) is modifying an existing system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency. The Lifeline Program (or "Lifeline") provides discounts for one Lifeline Program voice service per household and/or broadband internet access service (BIAS) to qualifying low- income individuals. Individuals may qualify for Lifeline through proof of income or participation in another qualifying program. Since the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline Program has been administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB). This system of records contains information about individuals who have started an application online or applied to participate in the Lifeline Program, respondents to consumer surveys related to the Lifeline program, and enrollment representatives. The modification updates the Categories of Records in the System and adds one new routine use.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to modify an existing system of records, FCC/CGB-3, National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency. The Commission uses the information, including personally identifiable information (PII), that is submitted by the certified equipment distribution program in each state, as required by the NDBEDP, to maintain each state's certification to participate in the NDBEDP to support the distribution of specialized customer premises equipment (CPE) and the provision of associated services. State equipment distribution programs, other public programs, and private entities may apply to the Commission for certification for the state to participate in the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for its activities. This modification updates the Purposes of the System, Categories of Individuals Covered by the System, and Categories of Records Covered by the System, adds two new routine uses, and updates and revises language in one existing routine use.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) seeks additional comment on the Commission's National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) framework, to further expedite, simplify, and reduce the costs of environmental review. This includes refreshing the record on the meaning of "undertaking" and the Commission's approach to implementing section 106 of the NHPA. The Commission also seeks comment on whether activities related to the deployment and operation of communications infrastructure are within the scope of "undertaking," as well as on other practices or actions the Commission could adopt to provide more efficiency and predictability in the section 106 process. Additionally, the Commission seeks comment on whether communications infrastructure deployments are agency actions subject to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 3060-1272, as adopted in the Commission's Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26- 46.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) invites interested parties to comment on the Upper C-band Transition Preliminary Cost Catalog (Cost Catalog), which is attached as Attachment A. The Cost Catalog contains preliminary estimates of reasonable and necessary transition costs that eligible space station operators and incumbent earth station operators (collectively, incumbents) may incur as they transition out of 4.0-4.16 GHz to make 160 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available to 3.7 GHz Service licensees for flexible use throughout the contiguous United States. The Cost Catalog also includes the payment categories for incumbent earth station operators that elect lump sum reimbursement in lieu of actual cost reimbursement. In Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, GN Docket Nos. 25-59 and 18-122, Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26-46 (July 24, 2026) (Upper C-band R&O), the Commission established that new 3.7 GHz Service licensees will reimburse incumbents for their reasonable and necessary relocation costs to transition out of 4.0-4.16 GHz and directed the Bureau to develop the Cost Catalog.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to modify an existing system of records, FCC/CGB-4, internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service-User Registration Database (ITRS-URD) Program, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency. The ITRS-URD's system of records contains personally identifiable information (PII) that is collected, used, stored, and maintained to support the administration, management, operations, and functions of the ITRS programs. The ITRS-URD, which is administered by a third party under contract with the FCC, is a database registration system that provides a necessary interface for multiple ITRS services, which include, but are not limited to Video Relay Service (VRS) and internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS). These services are available to individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities, who are eligible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and who register to participate in a TRS program. This modification updates the Categories of Records Covered by the System, adds a new routine use, and updates and revises language in one existing routine use.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to modify a system of records, FCC/WCB-6, USAC Customer Relationship Management (CRM), subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the Agency. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), administers the Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and certain programs funded by Congressional appropriations (appropriated programs). This system of records contains information about individuals who are customers, participants, and stakeholders of the programs who submit complaints and requests for assistance to USAC to address issues with their program participation. The modification includes the addition of one new routine use.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register concerning a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Thomas Goode on behalf of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. That document contained incorrect dates.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to rename and modify an existing system of records, FCC-2, Business Contacts, Disclosures, and Certifications (formerly: FCC-2, Business Contacts and Certifications), subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the Agency. The Commission uses this system to collect and maintain points of contact and to ensure compliance with FCC rules through certifications of disclosures and other information provided to the Commission. The FCC is modifying FCC-2 to include disclosures of prior misconduct from FCC program participants, consistent with the Office of Management and Budget Governmentwide Guidelines on Suspension and Debarment and FCC-specific rules. This modification changes the name of the system; updates the Purposes of the System, Categories of Records in the System, and Record Source Categories; and adds one routine use.

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) invites interested parties to comment on proposed categories, dollar amounts, and any other relevant information or procedures in connection with rebates to support retrofits of radio altimeters mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the introduction of terrestrial wireless services in the Upper C-band. In Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, GN Docket Nos. 25-59 and 18-122, Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26-46 (July 24, 2026) (Upper C-band R&O), the Commission established that new 3.7 GHz Service licensees will provide rebates to defined classes of eligible aircraft owners and operators to facilitate their compliance with the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit requirements and directed the Bureau to develop and seek public comment on its proposed rebate categories, dollar amounts, and other relevant procedures for administering the rebates.

This document proposes to amend the Table of TV Allotments (Table) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Licensee), the licensee of noncommercial educational PBS member television station KDIN-TV (KDIN-TV), Des Moines, Iowa (Des Moines). The Licensee holds a construction permit (CP) to construct a facility on UHF channel *34 at Des Moines, and now requests to substitute VHF channel *11 for UHF channel *34 in the Table, with the technical parameters as set forth in KDIN-TV's current license. The Media Bureau previously granted a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Licensee to substitute UHF channel *34 in place of VHF channel *11 at Des Moines. The Licensee states that it is now unable to complete construction of the channel *34 facility within the time specified on the construction permit, and therefore requests amendment of the Table to allow it to continue to operate on VHF channel *11 at its currently licensed technical parameters to provide uninterrupted service to viewers. Given that the Licensee proposes to utilize its currently licensed parameters, we believe VHF channel *11 can be substituted for UHF channel *34 at Des Moines as proposed, in compliance with the principal community coverage requirements. In addition, we find that this channel change meets the technical requirements as well as the Commission's interference protection requirements.

Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Thomas Goode on behalf of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it can further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.