41330 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

47 CFR Ch. I 

Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory 

and Deregulatory Actions—Spring 

2021 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda. 

SUMMARY: Twice a year, in spring and 

fall, the Commission publishes in the 

Federal Register a list in the Unified 

Agenda of those major items and other 

significant proceedings under 

development or review that pertain to 

the Regulatory Flexibility Act (U.S.C. 

602). The Unified Agenda also provides 

the Code of Federal Regulations 

citations and legal authorities that 

govern these proceedings. The complete 

Unified Agenda will be published on 

the internet in a searchable format at 

www.reginfo.gov. 

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications 

Commission, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Maura McGowan, Telecommunications 

Policy Specialist, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 

418–0990. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Unified Agenda of Major and Other 

Significant Proceedings 

The Commission encourages public 

participation in its rulemaking process. 

To help keep the public informed of 

significant rulemaking proceedings, the 

Commission has prepared a list of 

important proceedings now in progress. 

The General Services Administration 

publishes the Unified Agenda in the 

Federal Register in the spring and fall 

of each year. 

The following terms may clarify the 

status of the proceedings included in 

this report: 

Docket Number—assigned to a 

proceeding if the Commission has 

issued either a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking or a Notice of Inquiry 

concerning the matter under 

consideration. The Commission has 

used docket numbers since January 1, 

1978. Docket numbers consist of the last 

two digits of the calendar year in which 

the docket was established plus a 

sequential number that begins at 1 with 

the first docket initiated during a 

calendar year (e.g., Docket No. 15–1 or 

Docket No. 17–1). The abbreviation for 

the responsible bureau usually precedes 

the docket number, as in ‘‘MB Docket 

No. 17–289,’’ which indicates that the 

responsible bureau is the Media Bureau. 

A docket number consisting of only five 

digits (e.g., Docket No. 29622) indicates 

that the docket was established before 

January 1, 1978. 

Notice of Inquiry (NOI)—issued by the 

Commission when it is seeking 

information on a broad subject or trying 

to generate ideas on a given topic. A 

comment period is specified during 

which all interested parties may submit 

comments. 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(NPRM)—issued by the Commission 

when it is proposing a specific change 

to Commission rules and regulations. 

Before any changes are made, interested 

parties may submit written comments 

on the proposed revisions. 

Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (FNPRM)—issued by the 

Commission when additional comment 

in the proceeding is sought. 

Memorandum Opinion and Order 

(MO&O)—issued by the Commission to 

deny a petition for rulemaking, 

conclude an inquiry, modify a decision, 

or address a petition for reconsideration 

of a decision. 

Rulemaking (RM) Number—assigned 

to a proceeding after the appropriate 

bureau or office has reviewed a petition 

for rulemaking, but before the 

Commission has acted on the petition. 

Report and Order (R&O)—issued by 

the Commission to state a new or 

amended rule or state that the 

Commission rules and regulations will 

not be revised. 

Dated: March 2, 2021. 

Marlene H. Dortch, 

Secretary, Federal Communications 

Commission. 

CONSUMER AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

300 .................... Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG Docket No. 02–278).3060–AI14 

301 .................... Rules and Regulations Implementing Section 225 of the Communications Act (Telecommunications Relay 

Service) (CG Docket No. 03–123).

3060–AI15 

302 .................... Structure and Practices of the Video Relay Service (VRS) Program (CG Docket No. 10–51) ...................... 3060–AJ42 

303 .................... Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; Telecommunications Relay Services and 

Speech-to-Speech Services; CG Docket No. 13–24.

3060–AK01 

304 .................... Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG Docket No. 17–59) ............................ 3060–AK62 

ECONOMICS—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

305 .................... Development of Nationwide Broadband Data to Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans.3060–AJ15 

306 .................... Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions (GN 

Docket No. 12–268).

3060–AJ82 

OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

307 .................... Encouraging the Provision of New Technologies and Services to the Public (GN Docket No. 18–22) ......... 3060–AK80 


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OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY—LONG-TERM ACTIONS—Continued 

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

308 .................... Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No. 18–21) ...................................................................................................... 3060–AK81 

309 .................... Use of the 5.850–5.925 GHz Band (ET Docket No. 19–138) ......................................................................... 3060–AK96 

310 .................... Allowing Earlier Equipment Marketing and Importation Opportunities; Petition to Expand Marketing Opportunities for Innovative Technologies (ET Docket No. 20–382 & RM–11857) NPRM, 86 FR 2337, January 1.3060–AL18 

311 .................... Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands (ET Docket No. 20–36) ..................... 3060–AL22 

OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY—COMPLETED ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

312 .................... Unlicensed White Space Device Operations in the Television Bands (ET Docket No. 20–36) ..................... 3060–AL17 

INTERNATIONAL BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

313 .................... International Settlements Policy Reform (IB Docket No. 11–80) .................................................................... 3060–AJ77 

314 .................... Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning NonGeostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems, and Related 

Matters: IB Docket No. I6–408.

3060–AK59 

315 .................... Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the FCC Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating With Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB Docket No. 17–95.3060–AK84 

316 .................... Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services: IB Docket No. 18–314 ............................ 3060–AK87 

317 .................... Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion With Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations:

IB Docket No. 18–315.

3060–AK89 

318 .................... Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age: IB Docket No. 18–313 ................................................... 3060–AK90 

319 .................... Process Reform for Executive Branch Review of Certain FCC Applications and Petitions Involving Foreign 

Ownership (IB Docket No. 16–155).

3060–AL12 

MEDIA BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

320 .................... Revision of EEO Rules and Policies (MM Docket No. 98–204) ..................................................................... 3060–AH95 

321 .................... Establishment of Rules for Digital Low-Power Television, Television Translator, and Television Booster 

Stations (MB Docket No. 03–185).

3060–AI38 

322 .................... Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Related to Retransmission Consent (MB Docket No. 10–71) ........ 3060–AJ55 

323 .................... Preserving Vacant Channels in the UHF Television Band for Unlicensed Use; (MB Docket No. 15–146) ... 3060–AK43 

324 .................... Authorizing Permissive Use of the ‘‘Next Generation’’ Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16– 

142).

3060–AK56 

325 .................... 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of the Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18– 

349).

3060–AK77 

326 .................... Children’s Television Programming Rules (MB Docket 18–202) .................................................................... 3060–AK78 

327 .................... Equal Employment Opportunity Enforcement (MB Docket 19–177) ............................................................... 3060–AK86 

328 .................... Revision of the Commission’s Part 76 Review Procedures (MB Docket No. 20–70) ..................................... 3060–AL08 

329 .................... Duplication of Programming on Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB Docket No. 19–310) ...................... 3060–AL19 

330 .................... Sponsorship Identification Requirements for Foreign Government-Provided Programming (MB Docket No. 

20–299).

3060–AL20 

331 .................... FM Broadcast Booster Stations (MB Docket 20–401) .................................................................................... 3060–AL21 

OFFICE OF MANAGING DIRECTOR—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

332 .................... Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees .............................................................................................. 3060–AK64 

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

333 .................... Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements: PS Docket No. 07–114 .................................................... 3060–AJ52 


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41332 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS—Continued 

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

334 .................... Improving Outage Reporting for Submarine Cables and Enhancing Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN 

Docket No. 15–206.

3060–AK39 

335 .................... Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications: PS Docket 

No. 15–80.

3060–AK40 

336 .................... New Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications; ET Docket No. 04–35 3060–AK41 

337 .................... Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): PS Docket No. 15–91. ............................................................................ 3060–AK54 

338 .................... Blue Alert EAS Event Code ............................................................................................................................. 3060–AK63 

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

339 .................... Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 27, 90, and 95 of the Commission’s Rules to Improve Wireless Coverage Through the Use of Signal Boosters (WT Docket No. 10–4).3060–AJ87 

340 .................... Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Governing Certain Aviation Ground Station Equipment (Squitter) 

(WT Docket Nos. 10–61 and 09–42).

3060–AJ88 

341 .................... Promoting Technological Solutions to Combat Wireless Contraband Device Use in Correctional Facilities; 

GN Docket No. 13–111.

3060–AK06 

342 .................... Promoting Investment in the 3550–3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17–258 ............................................... 3060–AK12 

343 .................... Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 GHz for Mobile Services—Spectrum Frontiers: WT Docket 10–112 ...... 3060–AK44 

344 .................... Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, WT Docket No.18–120. .............................................................................. 3060–AK75 

345 .................... Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No. 18–122 .............................................. 3060–AK76 

346 .................... Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Promote Aviation Safety: WT Docket No. 19–140 ..................... 3060–AK92 

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU—LONG-TERM ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

347 .................... Local Telephone Networks That LECs Must Make Available to Competitors ................................................ 3060–AH44 

348 .................... Numbering Resource Optimization .................................................................................................................. 3060–AH80 

349 .................... Jurisdictional Separations ................................................................................................................................ 3060–AJ06 

350 .................... Rural Call Completion; WC Docket No. 13–39 ............................................................................................... 3060–AJ89 

351 .................... Comprehensive Review of the Part 32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC Docket No. 14–130) ................... 3060–AK20 

352 .................... Restoring Internet Freedom (WC Docket No. 17–108); Protecting and Promoting the Open Internet (GN 

Docket No. 14–28).

3060–AK21 

353 .................... Technology Transitions; GN Docket No 13–5, WC Docket No. 05–25; Accelerating Wireline Broadband 

Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket No. 17–84.

3060–AK32 

354 .................... Implementation of the Universal Service Portions of the 1996 Telecommunications Act .............................. 3060–AK57 

355 .................... Toll Free Assignment Modernization and Toll Free Service Access Codes: WC Docket No. 17–192, CC 

Docket No. 95–155.

3060–AK91 

356 .................... Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; WC Docket Nos. 19–195 and 11–10 .......................... 3060–AK93 

357 .................... Call Authentication Trust Anchor ..................................................................................................................... 3060–AL00 

358 .................... Implementation of the National Suicide Improvement Act of 2018 ................................................................. 3060–AL01 

359 .................... Modernizing Unbundling and Resale Requirements in an Era of Next-Generation Networks and Services 3060–AL02 

360 .................... Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone Access Charges (WC Docket 20–71) ... 3060–AL03 

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU—COMPLETED ACTIONS

Sequence No. Title Regulation 

Identifier No. 

361 .................... Service Quality Measurement Plan for Interstate Special Access (WC Docket No. 02–112; CC Docket No. 

00–175; WC Docket No. 06–120).

3060–AJ08 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 41333 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Consumer and Governmental Affairs 

Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

300. Rules and Regulations 

Implementing the Telephone Consumer 

Protection Act (TCPA) of 1991 (CG 

Docket No. 02–278) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 227 

Abstract: In this docket, the 

Commission considers rules and 

policies to implement the Telephone 

Consumer Protection Act of 1991 

(TCPA). The TCPA places requirements 

on robocalls (calls using an automatic 

telephone dialing system, an autodialer, 

a prerecorded or, an artificial voice), 

telemarketing calls, and unsolicited fax 

advertisements. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 10/08/02 67 FR 62667 

FNPRM ............... 04/03/03 68 FR 16250 

Order ................... 07/25/03 68 FR 44144 

Order Effective .... 08/25/03 

Order on Reconsideration.08/25/03 68 FR 50978 

Order ................... 10/14/03 68 FR 59130 

FNPRM ............... 03/31/04 69 FR 16873 

Order ................... 10/08/04 69 FR 60311 

Order ................... 10/28/04 69 FR 62816 

Order on Reconsideration.04/13/05 70 FR 19330 

Order ................... 06/30/05 70 FR 37705 

NPRM .................. 12/19/05 70 FR 75102 

Public Notice ....... 04/26/06 71 FR 24634 

Order ................... 05/03/06 71 FR 25967 

NPRM .................. 12/14/07 72 FR 71099 

Declaratory Ruling 02/01/08 73 FR 6041 

R&O .................... 07/14/08 73 FR 40183 

Order on Reconsideration.10/30/08 73 FR 64556 

NPRM .................. 03/22/10 75 FR 13471 

R&O .................... 06/11/12 77 FR 34233 

Public Notice ....... 06/30/10 75 FR 34244 

Public Notice (Reconsideration 

Petitions Filed).

10/03/12 77 FR 60343 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

10/16/12 77 FR 63240 

Opposition End 

Date.

10/18/12 

Rule Corrections 11/08/12 77 FR 66935 

Declaratory Ruling 

(release date).

11/29/12 

Declaratory Ruling 

(release date).

05/09/13 

Declaratory Ruling 

and Order.

10/09/15 80 FR 61129 

NPRM .................. 05/20/16 81 FR 31889 

Declaratory Ruling 07/05/16 

R&O .................... 11/16/16 81 FR 80594 

Declaratory Ruling 12/06/19 

Declaratory Ruling 12/09/19 

Order ................... 03/17/20 

Declaratory Ruling 03/20/20 

Declaratory Ruling 06/25/20 

Declaratory Ruling 

and Order.

06/25/20 

Action Date FR Cite 

Order on Reconsideration.08/28/20 

Declaratory Ruling 09/04/20 

Declaratory Ruling 09/21/20 

NPRM .................. 10/09/20 85 FR 64091 

Public Notice ....... 12/17/20 

Declaratory Ruling 12/18/20 

Declaratory Ruling 01/15/21 

Order on Recon .. 02/12/21 86 FR 9299 

R&O .................... 02/25/21 86 FR 11443 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Kristi Thornton, 

Deputy Division Chief, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2467, Email: 

kristi.thornton@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AI14 

301. Rules and Regulations 

Implementing Section 225 of the 

Communications Act 

(Telecommunications Relay Service) 

(CG Docket No. 03–123) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225 

Abstract: This proceeding continues 

the Commission’s inquiry into 

improving the quality of 

telecommunications relay service (TRS) 

and furthering the goal of functional 

equivalency, consistent with Congress’ 

mandate that TRS regulations encourage 

the use of existing technology and not 

discourage or impair the development of 

new technology. In this docket, the 

Commission explores ways to improve 

emergency preparedness for TRS 

facilities and services, new TRS 

technologies, public access to 

information and outreach, and issues 

related to payments from the Interstate 

TRS Fund. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 08/25/03 68 FR 50993 

R&O, Order on 

Reconsideration.

09/01/04 69 FR 53346 

FNPRM ............... 09/01/04 69 FR 53382 

Public Notice ....... 02/17/05 70 FR 8034 

Declaratory Ruling/Interpretation.02/25/05 70 FR 9239 

Public Notice ....... 03/07/05 70 FR 10930 

Order ................... 03/23/05 70 FR 14568 

Public Notice/Announcement of 

Date.

04/06/05 70 FR 17334 

Order ................... 07/01/05 70 FR 38134 

Order on Reconsideration.08/31/05 70 FR 51643 

R&O .................... 08/31/05 70 FR 51649 

Order ................... 09/14/05 70 FR 54294 

Order ................... 09/14/05 70 FR 54298 

Action Date FR Cite 

Public Notice ....... 10/12/05 70 FR 59346 

R&O/Order on 

Reconsideration.

12/23/05 70 FR 76208 

Order ................... 12/28/05 70 FR 76712 

Order ................... 12/29/05 70 FR 77052 

NPRM .................. 02/01/06 71 FR 5221 

Declaratory Ruling/Clarification.05/31/06 71 FR 30818 

FNPRM ............... 05/31/06 71 FR 30848 

FNPRM ............... 06/01/06 71 FR 31131 

Declaratory Ruling/Dismissal of 

Petition.

06/21/06 71 FR 35553 

Clarification ......... 06/28/06 71 FR 36690 

Declaratory Ruling 

on Reconsideration.

07/06/06 71 FR 38268 

Order on Reconsideration.08/16/06 71 FR 47141 

MO&O ................. 08/16/06 71 FR 47145 

Clarification ......... 08/23/06 71 FR 49380 

FNPRM ............... 09/13/06 71 FR 54009 

Final Rule; Clarification.02/14/07 72 FR 6960 

Order ................... 03/14/07 72 FR 11789 

R&O .................... 08/06/07 72 FR 43546 

Public Notice ....... 08/16/07 72 FR 46060 

Order ................... 11/01/07 72 FR 61813 

Public Notice ....... 01/04/08 73 FR 863 

R&O/Declaratory 

Ruling.

01/17/08 73 FR 3197 

Order ................... 02/19/08 73 FR 9031 

Order ................... 04/21/08 73 FR 21347 

R&O .................... 04/21/08 73 FR 21252 

Order ................... 04/23/08 73 FR 21843 

Public Notice ....... 04/30/08 73 FR 23361 

Order ................... 05/15/08 73 FR 28057 

Declaratory Ruling 07/08/08 73 FR 38928 

FNPRM ............... 07/18/08 73 FR 41307 

R&O .................... 07/18/08 73 FR 41286 

Public Notice ....... 08/01/08 73 FR 45006 

Public Notice ....... 08/05/08 73 FR 45354 

Public Notice ....... 10/10/08 73 FR 60172 

Order ................... 10/23/08 73 FR 63078 

2nd R&O and 

Order on Reconsideration.

12/30/08 73 FR 79683 

Order ................... 05/06/09 74 FR 20892 

Public Notice ....... 05/07/09 74 FR 21364 

NPRM .................. 05/21/09 74 FR 23815 

Public Notice ....... 05/21/09 74 FR 23859 

Public Notice ....... 06/12/09 74 FR 28046 

Order ................... 07/29/09 74 FR 37624 

Public Notice ....... 08/07/09 74 FR 39699 

Order ................... 09/18/09 74 FR 47894 

Order ................... 10/26/09 74 FR 54913 

Public Notice ....... 05/12/10 75 FR 26701 

Order Denying 

Stay Motion 

(Release Date).

07/09/10 

Order ................... 08/13/10 75 FR 49491 

Order ................... 09/03/10 75 FR 54040 

NPRM .................. 11/02/10 75 FR 67333 

NPRM .................. 05/02/11 76 FR 24442 

Order ................... 07/25/11 76 FR 44326 

Final Rule (Order) 09/27/11 76 FR 59551 

Final Rule; Announcement of 

Effective Date.

11/22/11 76 FR 72124 

Proposed Rule 

(Public Notice).

02/28/12 77 FR 11997 

Proposed Rule 

(FNPRM).

02/01/12 77 FR 4948 

First R&O ............ 07/25/12 77 FR 43538 


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41334 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

Action Date FR Cite 

Public Notice ....... 10/29/12 77 FR 65526 

Order on Reconsideration.12/26/12 77 FR 75894 

Order ................... 02/05/13 78 FR 8030 

Order (Interim 

Rule).

02/05/13 78 FR 8032 

NPRM .................. 02/05/13 78 FR 8090 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

03/07/13 78 FR 14701 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/13/13 

FNPRM ............... 07/05/13 78 FR 40407 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/18/13 

R&O .................... 07/05/13 78 FR 40582 

R&O .................... 08/15/13 78 FR 49693 

FNPRM ............... 08/15/13 78 FR 49717 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/30/13 

R&O .................... 08/30/13 78 FR 53684 

FNPRM ............... 09/03/13 78 FR 54201 

NPRM .................. 10/23/13 78FR 63152 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/18/13 

Petiton for Reconsideration; Request for Comment.12/16/13 78 FR 76096 

Petition for Reconsideration; 

Request for 

Comment.

12/16/13 78 FR 76097 

Request for Clarification; Request for Comment; Correction.12/30/13 78 FR 79362 

Petition for Reconsideration 

Comment Period End.

01/10/14 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/21/14 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

07/11/14 79 FR 40003 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

08/28/14 79 FR 51446 

Correction—Announcement of 

Effective Date.

08/28/14 79 FR 51450 

Technical Amendments.09/09/14 79 FR 53303 

Public Notice ....... 09/15/14 79 FR 54979 

R&O and Order ... 10/21/14 79 FR 62875 

FNPRM ............... 10/21/14 79 FR 62935 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/22/14 

Final Action (Announcement of 

Effective Date).

10/30/14 79 FR 64515 

Final Rule Effective.10/30/14 

FNPRM ............... 11/08/15 80 FR 72029 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/01/16 

Public Notice ....... 01/20/16 81 FR 3085 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

02/16/16 

R&O .................... 03/21/16 81 FR 14984 

FNPRM ............... 08/24/16 81 FR 57851 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/14/16 

NOI and FNPRM 04/12/17 82 FR 17613 

Action Date FR Cite 

NOI and FNPRM 

Comment Period End.

05/30/17 

R&O .................... 04/13/17 82 FR 17754 

R&O .................... 04/27/17 82 FR 19322 

FNPRM ............... 04/27/17 82 FR 19347 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/11/17 

R&O .................... 06/23/17 82 FR 28566 

Public Notice ....... 07/21/17 82 FR 33856 

Public Notice— 

Correction.

07/25/17 82 FR 34471 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

07/31/17 

Public Notice— 

Correction 

Comment Period End.

08/17/17 

R&O .................... 08/22/17 82 FR 39673 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

10/17/17 82 FR 48203 

Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.10/25/17 82 FR 49303 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

11/20/17 

R&O and Declaratory Ruling.06/27/18 83 FR 30082 

FNPRM ............... 07/18/18 83 FR 33899 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/15/18 

Public Notice ....... 08/23/18 83 FR 42630 

Public Notice Opposition Period 

End.

09/17/18 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

02/04/19 84 FR 1409 

R&O .................... 03/08/19 84 FR 8457 

FNPRM ............... 03/14/19 84 FR 9276 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/29/19 

R&O .................... 06/06/19 84 FR 26364 

FNPRM ............... 06/06/19 84 FR 26379 

Petition for Recon 

Request for 

Comment.

06/18/19 84 FR 28264 

Petition for Recon 

Comment Period End.

07/15/19 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/05/19 

R&O .................... 01/06/20 85 FR 462 

R&O .................... 01/09/20 85 FR 1125 

NPRM .................. 01/09/20 85 FR 1134 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/13/20 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

02/19/20 85 FR 9392 

Final Rule; removal of compliance notices.05/06/20 85 FR 26857 

Report & Order ... 05/08/20 85 FR 27309 

Final Rule; correction.08/26/20 85 FR 52489 

R&O and Order 

on Recon.

10/14/20 85 FR 64971 

Final Rule; announcement of 

effective and 

compliance 

dates.

10/23/20 85 FR 67447 

FNPRM ............... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681 

Action Date FR Cite 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/02/21 

Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.02/22/21 86 FR 10458 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

03/19/21 

R&O .................... 02/23/21 86 FR 10844 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, 

Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2235, Email: 

eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AI15 

302. Structure and Practices of the 

Video Relay Service (VRS) Program 

(CG Docket No. 10–51) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 

303(r) 

Abstract: The Commission takes a 

fresh look at its VRS rules to ensure that 

it is available to and used by the full 

spectrum of eligible users, encourages 

innovation, and is provided efficiently 

to be less susceptible to the waste, 

fraud, and abuse that have plagued the 

program and threatened its long-term 

viability. The Commission also 

considers the most effective and 

efficient way to make VRS available and 

to determine what is the most fair, 

efficient, and transparent cost-recovery 

methodology. In addition, the 

Commission looks at various ways to 

measure the quality of VRS so as to 

ensure a better consumer experience. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Declaratory Ruling 05/07/10 75 FR 25255 

Declaratory Ruling 07/13/10 75 FR 39945 

Order ................... 07/13/10 75 FR 39859 

Notice of Inquiry .. 07/19/10 75 FR 41863 

NPRM .................. 08/23/10 75 FR 51735 

Interim Final Rule 02/15/11 76 FR 8659 

Public Notice ....... 03/02/11 76 R 11462 

R&O .................... 05/02/11 76 FR 24393 

FNPRM ............... 05/02/11 76 FR 24437 

NPRM .................. 05/02/11 76 FR 24442 

R&O (Correction) 05/27/11 76 FR 30841 

Order ................... 07/25/11 76 FR 44326 

2nd R&O ............. 08/05/11 76 FR 47469 

Order (Interim 

Final Rule).

08/05/11 76 FR 47476 

Final Rule; Announcement of 

Effective Date.

09/26/11 76 FR 59269 

Final Rule; Petition for Reconsideration; Public Notice.09/27/11 76 FR 59557 


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Action Date FR Cite 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

10/07/11 

Final Rule; Clarification (MO&O).10/31/11 76 FR 67070 

FNPRM ............... 10/31/11 76 FR 67118 

Interim Final Rule; 

Announcement 

of Effective 

Date.

11/03/11 76 FR 68116 

Final Rule; Announcement of 

Effective Date.

11/04/11 76 FR 68328 

Final Rule; Announcement of 

Effective Date.

11/07/11 76 FR 68642 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/30/11 

FNPRM ............... 02/01/12 77 FR 4948 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/19/12 

Final Rule; Correction.03/27/12 77 FR 18106 

Correcting 

Amendments.

06/07/12 77 FR 33662 

Order (Release 

Date).

07/25/12 

Correcting 

Amendments.

10/04/12 77 FR 60630 

Public Notice ....... 10/29/12 77 FR 65526 

Comment Period 

End.

11/29/12 

FNPRM ............... 07/05/13 78 FR 40407 

R&O .................... 07/05/13 78 FR 40582 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/18/13 

Public Notice ....... 09/11/13 78 FR 55696 

Public Notice ....... 09/15/14 79 FR 54979 

Comment Period 

End.

10/10/14 

Final Action (Announcement of 

Effective Date).

10/30/14 79 FR 64515 

Final Rule Effective.10/30/14 

FNPRM ............... 11/18/15 80 FR 72029 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/01/16 

R&O .................... 03/21/16 81 FR 14984 

FNPRM ............... 08/24/16 81 FR 57851 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/14/16 

NOI and FNPRM 04/12/17 82 FR 17613 

NOI and FNPRM 

Comment Period End.

05/30/17 

R&O .................... 04/13/17 82 FR 17754 

R&O .................... 04/27/17 82 FR 19322 

FNPRM ............... 04/27/17 82 FR 19347 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/01/17 

Order ................... 06/23/17 82 FR 28566 

Public Notice ....... 07/21/17 82 FR 33856 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

07/31/17 

Public Notice Correction.07/25/17 82 FR 34471 

Public Notice Correction Comment Period 

End.

08/17/17 

R&O and Order ... 08/22/17 82 FR 39673 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

10/17/17 82 FR 48203 

Action Date FR Cite 

Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.10/25/17 82 FR 49303 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

11/20/17 

R&O .................... 06/06/19 84 FR 26364 

FNPRM ............... 06/06/19 84 FR 26379 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/05/19 

Report & Order ... 05/08/20 85 FR 27309 

R&O and Order 

on Recon.

10/14/20 85 FR 64971 

Final rule; announcement of 

effective and 

compliance 

dates.

10/23/20 85 FR 67447 

FNPRM ............... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/02/21 

Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.02/22/21 86 FR 10458 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

03/19/21 

Next Action Undetermined.To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, 

Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2235, Email: 

eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ42 

303. Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) 

Captioned Telephone Service; 

Telecommunications Relay Services 

and Speech-To-Speech Services; CG 

Docket No. 13–24 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 225 

Abstract: The Federal 

Communications Commission (FCC) 

initiated this proceeding in its effort to 

ensure that Internet-Protocol Captioned 

Telephone Service (IP CTS) is provided 

effectively and in the most efficient 

manner. In doing so, the FCC adopted 

rules to address certain practices related 

to the provision and marketing of IP 

CTS, as well as compensation of TRS 

providers. IP CTS is a form of relay 

service designed to allow people with 

hearing loss to speak directly to another 

party on a telephone call and to 

simultaneously listen to the other party 

and read captions of what that party is 

saying over an IP-enabled device. To 

ensure that IP CTS is provided 

efficiently to persons who need to use 

this service, the Commission adopted 

rules establishing several requirements 

and issued an FNPRM to address 

additional issues. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/05/13 78 FR 8090 

Order (Interim 

Rule).

02/05/13 78 FR 8032 

Order ................... 02/05/13 78 FR 8030 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

03/07/13 78 FR 14701 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/12/13 

R&O .................... 08/30/13 78 FR 53684 

FNPRM ............... 09/03/13 78FR 54201 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/18/13 

Petition for Reconsideration 

Request for 

Comment.

12/16/13 78 FR 76097 

Petition for Reconsideration 

Comment Period End.

01/10/14 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

07/11/14 79 FR 40003 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

08/28/14 79 FR 51446 

Correction—Announcement of 

Effective Date.

08/28/14 79 FR 51450 

Technical Amendments.09/09/14 79 FR 53303 

R&O and Declaratory Ruling.06/27/18 83 FR 30082 

FNPRM ............... 07/18/18 83 FR 33899 

Public Notice ....... 08/23/18 83 FR 42630 

Public Notice Opposition Period 

End.

09/17/18 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/15/18 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

02/04/19 84 FR 1409 

R&O .................... 03/08/19 84 FR 8457 

FNPRM ............... 03/14/19 84 FR 9276 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/29/19 

Petition for Recon 

Request for 

Comment.

06/18/19 84 FR 28264 

Petition for Recon 

Comment Period End.

07/15/19 

R&O .................... 01/06/20 85 FR 462 

Announcement of 

Effective Date.

02/19/20 85 FR 9392 

Final Rule; Removal of Compliance Notes.05/06/20 85 FR 26857 

Final Rule; correction.08/26/20 85 FR 52489 

R&O and Order 

on Recon.

10/14/20 85 FR 64971 

FNPRM ............... 02/01/21 86 FR 7681 

Public Notice; Petition for Reconsideration.02/22/21 86 FR 10458 

Oppositions Due 

Date.

03/19/21 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/02/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS23
41336 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

Agency Contact: Eliot Greenwald, 

Deputy Chief, Disability Rights Office, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2235, Email: 

eliot.greenwald@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK01 

304. Advanced Methods To Target and 

Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls (CG 

Docket No. 17–59) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201 and 

202; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 251(e) 

Abstract: The Telephone Consumer 

Protection Act of 1991 restricts the use 

of robocalls autodialed or prerecorded 

calls in certain instances. In CG Docket 

No. 17–59, the Commission considers 

rules and policies aimed at eliminating 

unlawful robocalling. Among the issues 

it examines in this docket are whether 

to allow carriers to block calls that 

purport to be from unallocated or 

unassigned phone numbers through the 

use of spoofing, whether to allow 

carriers to block calls based on their 

own analyses of which calls are likely 

to be unlawful and whether to establish 

a database of reassigned phone numbers 

to help prevent robocalls to consumers, 

who did not consent to such calls. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM/NOI .......... 05/17/17 82 FR 22625 

2nd NOI ............... 07/13/17 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/31/17 

FNPRM ............... 01/08/18 83 FR 770 

R&O .................... 01/12/18 83 FR 1566 

2nd FNPRM ........ 04/23/18 83 FR 17631 

2nd FNPRM 

Comment Period End.

06/07/18 

2nd FNPRM 

Reply Comment 

Period End.

07/09/18 

2nd R&O ............. 03/26/19 84 FR 11226 

3rd FNPRM ......... 06/24/19 84 FR 29478 

Declaratory Ruling 06/24/19 84 FR 29387 

Public Notice 

Seeking Input 

on Report.

12/30/19 

Public Notice 

Seeking Comment on Reassigned Numbers.

01/24/20 

Public Notice 

Seeking Comment on RND 

Cost/Fee Structure.

02/26/20 

Public Notice Establishing 

Guidelines for 

RND.

04/16/20 

Report ................. 06/25/20 

3rd NPRM Comment Date.06/26/20 

Action Date FR Cite 

Announcement of 

Compliance 

Dates.

06/26/20 85 FR 38334 

3rd R&O, Order of 

Reconsideration, 4th 

FNPRM.

07/31/20 85 FR 46063 

4th R&O (release 

date).

12/30/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Karen Schroeder, 

Associate Division Chief, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0654, Email: 

karen.schroeder@fcc.gov. 

Jerusha Burnett, Attorney Advisor, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0526, Email: 

jerusha.burnett@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK62 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Economics 

Long-Term Actions 

305. Development of Nationwide 

Broadband Data To Evaluate 

Reasonable and Timely Deployment of 

Advanced Services to All Americans 

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 251; 47 

U.S.C. 252; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 271; 

47 U.S.C. 1302; 47 U.S.C. 160(b); 47 

U.S.C. 161(a)(2) 

Abstract: The Report and Order 

streamlined and reformed the 

Commission’s Form 477 Data Program, 

which is the Commission’s primary tool 

to collect data on broadband and 

telephone services. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/16/07 72 FR 27519 

Order ................... 07/02/08 73 FR 37861 

Order ................... 10/15/08 73 FR 60997 

NPRM .................. 02/08/11 76 FR 10827 

Order ................... 06/27/13 78 FR 49126 

NPRM .................. 08/24/17 82 FR 40118 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/25/17 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

10/10/17 

R&O and FNPRM 08/22/19 84 FR 43764 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Suzanne Mendez, 

Program Analyst, OEA, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0941, Email: 

suzanne.mendez@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ15 

306. Expanding the Economic and 

Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum 

Through Incentive Auctions (GN 

Docket No. 12–268) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 

309(j)(8)(G); 47 U.S.C. 1452 

Abstract: In February 2012, the 

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 

Creation Act was enacted (Pub. L. 112– 

96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012)). Title VI of that 

statute, commonly known as the 

Spectrum Act, provides the Commission 

with the authority to conduct incentive 

auctions to meet the growing demand 

for wireless broadband. Pursuant to the 

Spectrum Act, the Commission may 

conduct incentive auctions that will 

offer new initial spectrum licenses 

subject to flexible-use service rules on 

spectrum made available by licensees 

that voluntarily relinquish some or all of 

their spectrum usage rights in exchange 

for a portion, based on the value of the 

relinquished rights as determined by an 

auction, of the proceeds of bidding for 

the new licenses. In addition to granting 

the Commission general authority to 

conduct incentive auctions, the 

Spectrum Act requires the Commission 

to conduct an incentive auction of 

broadcast TV spectrum and sets forth 

special requirements for such an 

auction. 

The Spectrum Act requires that the 

BIA consist of a reverse auction ‘‘to 

determine the amount of compensation 

that each broadcast television licensee 

would accept in return for voluntarily 

relinquishing some or all of its spectrum 

usage rights’’ and a forward auction of 

licenses in the reallocated spectrum for 

flexible-use services, including mobile 

broadband. Broadcast television 

licensees who elected to voluntarily 

participate in the auction had three 

bidding options: Go off-the-air, share 

spectrum with another broadcast 

television licensee, or move channels to 

the upper or lower VHS band in 

exchange for receiving part of the 

proceeds from auctioning that spectrum 

to wireless providers. The Spectrum Act 

also authorized the Commission to 

reorganize the 600 MHz band following 

the BIA including, as necessary, 

reassigning full power and Class A 

television stations to new channels in 

order to clear the spectrum sold in the 

BIA. That post-auction reorganization 

(known as the repack) is currently 

underway and all of the stations who 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 41337 

were assigned new channels are 

scheduled to have vacated their preauction channels by July 3, 2020, 

pursuant to a 10-phase transition 

schedule adopted by the Commission. 

In May 2014, the Commission 

adopted a Report and Order that laid out 

the general framework for the BIA. The 

auction started on March 29, 2016, with 

the submission of initial commitments 

by eligible broadcast licensees. The BIA 

ended on April 13, 2017, with the 

release of the Auction Closing and 

Channel Reassignment Public Notice 

that also marked the start of the 39- 

month transition period during which 

987 of the full power and Class A 

television stations remaining on-the-air 

will transition their stations to their 

post-auction channel assignments in the 

reorganized television band. Pursuant to 

the Spectrum Act, the Commission will 

reimburse 957 of those full power and 

Class A stations for the reasonable costs 

associated with relocating to their postauction channel assignments and will 

reimburse multichannel video 

programming distributors for their costs 

associated with continuing to carry the 

signals of those stations. 

In March 2018, the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 115–141, at 

Div. E, Title V, 511, 132 Stat. 348 (2018), 

codified at 47 U.S.C. 1452(j)–(n)) (the 

Reimbursement Expansion Act or REA), 

extended the deadline for 

reimbursement of eligible entities from 

April 2020 to no later than July 3, 2023, 

and also expanded the universe of 

entities eligible for reimbursement to 

include low-power television stations 

and TV translator stations displaced by 

the BIA for their reasonably incurred 

costs to relocate to a new channel, and 

FM broadcast stations for their 

reasonably incurred costs for facilities 

necessary to reasonably minimize 

disruption of service as a result of the 

post-auction reorganization of the 

television band. On March 15, 2019, the 

Commission adopted a Report and 

Order setting rules for the 

reimbursement of eligible costs to those 

newly eligible entities. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/21/12 77 FR 69933 

R&O .................... 08/15/14 79 FR 48441 

Final Rule ............ 10/11/17 82 FR 47155 

NPRM .................. 08/27/18 83 FR 43613 

R&O .................... 03/26/19 84 FR 11233 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Jean L. Kiddoo, 

Chair, Incentive Auction Task Force, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7757, Email: 

jean.kiddoo@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ82 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Office of Engineering and Technology 

Long-Term Actions 

307. Encouraging the Provision of New 

Technologies and Services to the Public 

(GN Docket No. 18–22) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(3) 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC 

seeks to establish rules describing 

guidelines and procedures to implement 

the stated policy goal of section 7 to 

encourage the provision of new 

technologies and services to the public. 

Although the forces of competition and 

technological growth work together to 

enable the development and 

deployment of many new technologies 

and services to the public, the 

Commission has at times been slow to 

identify and take action to ensure that 

important new technologies or services 

are made available as quickly as 

possible. The Commission has sought to 

overcome these impediments by 

streamlining many of its processes but 

all too often regulatory delays can 

adversely impact newly proposed 

technologies or services. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/04/18 83 FR 14395 

Comment Period 

End.

05/04/18 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Paul Murray, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Office of 

Engineering and Technology, 445 12th 

Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0688, Fax: 202 418– 

7447, Email: paul.murray@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK80 

308. Spectrum Horizon (ET Docket No. 

18–21) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 

152; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 

U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 

302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 

U.S.C. 310; 47 U.S.C. 332; sec. 76 of 

1996 Telecom Act, as amended, 47 

U.S.C. 302 and sec. 1.411 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the FCC 

seeks to implement a plan to make the 

spectrum above 95 GHz more readily 

accessible for new innovative services 

and technologies. Throughout its 

history, when the Commission has 

expanded access to what was thought to 

be the upper reaches of the usable 

spectrum, new technological advances 

have emerged to push the boundary of 

usable spectrum even further. The 

frequencies above 95 GHz are today’s 

spectrum horizons. The Notice sought 

comment on proposed rules to permit 

licensed fixed point-to-point operations 

in a total of 102.2 gigahertz of spectrum; 

on making 15.2 gigahertz of spectrum 

available for unlicensed use; and on 

creating a new category of experimental 

licenses to increase opportunities for 

entities to develop new services and 

technologies from 95 GHz to 3 THz with 

no limits on geography or technology. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/02/18 83 FR 13888 

ANPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/02/18 

R&O .................... 06/14/19 84 FR 25685 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Ha, Deputy 

Division Chief, Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th 

Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 201 418–2099, Email: 

michael.ha@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK81 

309. Use of the 5.850–5.925 GHz Band 

(ET Docket No. 19–138) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1; 47 U.S.C. 

4(i); 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302; 47 

U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 332; 

47 CFR 1.411 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission proposes to amend its rules 

for the 5.850–5.925 GHz (5.9 GHz) band. 

The proposal would permit unlicensed 

devices to operate in the lower 45- 

megahertz portion of the band at 5.850– 

5.895 GHz under part 15 of the 

Commission’s rules. It would also 

permit Intelligent Transportation 

System (ITS) operations in the upper 30- 

megahertz portion of the band at 5.895– 

5.925 GHz under parts 90 and 95 of the 

Commission’s rules. ITS operations 

would consist of Cellular Vehicle to 

Everything (C–V2X) devices at 5.905– 

5.925 GHz, and C–V2X and/or 

Dedicated Short Range Communications 

(DSRC) devices at 5.895–5.905 GHz. 

Timetable: 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS23
41338 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/06/20 85 FR 6841 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/09/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Howard Griboff, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, 45, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0657, Fax: 202 418– 

2824, Email: howard.griboff@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK96 

310. • Allowing Earlier Equipment 

Marketing and Importation 

Opportunities; Petition To Expand 

Marketing Opportunities for Innovative 

Technologies (ET Docket No. 20–382 & 

RM–11857) NPRM, 86 FR 2337, 

January 1 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 

302a, 303(c), 303(f), and 303(r) 

Abstract: In this document, the 

Commission recognize that our 

equipment authorization rules have in 

some ways failed to keep pace with 

developments in the modern device 

ecosystem. In particular, our rules limit 

the ability of device manufacturers to 

market and import radiofrequency 

devices in the most efficient and costeffective ways possible. We therefore 

take the opportunity here to propose 

specific rule changes that would allow 

device manufacturers to take full 

advantage of modern marketing and 

importation practices. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/12/21 86 FR 2337 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/11/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Thomas Struble, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2470, Email: 

thomas.struble@fcc.gov. 

Brian Butler, Attorney, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2702, Email: 

brian.butler@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL18 

311. • Unlicensed White Space Device 

Operations in the Television Bands (ET 

Docket No. 20–36) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 

U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 302a; 47 U.S.C. 

303; 47 U.S.C. 1.407 and 1.411 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission revises its rules to provide 

additional opportunities for unlicensed 

white space devices operating in the 

broadcast television bands (TV bands) to 

deliver wireless broadband services in 

rural areas and applications associated 

with the Internet of Things (IoT). This 

region of the spectrum has excellent 

propagation characteristics that make it 

particularly attractive for delivering 

communications services over long 

distances, coping with variations in 

terrain, as well as providing coverage 

into and within buildings. We offer 

several proposals to spur continued 

growth of the white space device 

ecosystem, especially for providing 

affordable broadband service to rural 

and underserved communities that can 

help close the digital divide. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/03/20 85 FR 18901 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/03/20 

R&O .................... 01/12/21 86 FR 2278 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Hugh Van Tuyl, 

Electronics Engineer, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7506, Fax: 202 418– 

1944, Email: hugh.vantuyl@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL22 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Office of Engineering and Technology 

Completed Actions 

312. • Unlicensed White Space Device 

Operations in the Television Bands (ET 

Docket No. 20–36) 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Duplicate of 

3060–AL22.

04/01/21 

RIN: 3060–AL17 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

International Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

313. International Settlements Policy 

Reform (IB Docket No. 11–80) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 

47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 201 to 205; 47 

U.S.C. 208; 47 U.S.C. 211; 47 U.S.C. 214; 

47 U.S.C. 303(r); 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 

U.S.C. 403 

Abstract: The FCC is reviewing the 

International Settlements Policy (ISP). It 

governs the ways U.S. carriers negotiate 

with foreign carriers for the exchange of 

international traffic and is the structure 

by which the Commission has sought to 

respond to concerns that foreign carriers 

with market power are able to take 

advantage of the presence of multiple 

U.S. carriers serving a particular market. 

In 2011, the FCC released an NPRM that 

proposed to further deregulate the 

international telephony market and 

enable U.S. consumers to enjoy 

competitive prices when they make 

calls to international destinations. First, 

it proposed to remove the ISP from all 

international routes except Cuba. 

Second, the FCC sought comment on a 

proposal to enable the Commission to 

better protect U.S. consumers from the 

effects of anticompetitive conduct by 

foreign carriers in instances 

necessitating Commission intervention. 

In 2012, the FCC adopted a Report and 

Order that eliminated the ISP on all 

routes but maintained the 

nondiscrimination requirement of the 

ISP on the U.S.-Cuba route and codified 

it in 47 CFR 63.22(f). In the Report and 

Order, the FCC also adopted measures 

to protect U.S. consumers from 

anticompetitive conduct by foreign 

carriers. In 2016, the FCC released an 

FNPRM seeking comment on removing 

the discrimination requirement on the 

U.S.-Cuba route. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/13/11 76 FR 42625 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/02/11 

Report and Order 02/15/13 78 FR 11109 

FNPRM ............... 03/04/16 81 FR 11500 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/18/16 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: David Krech, Assoc. 

Chief, Telecommunications & Analysis 

Division, Federal Communications 

Commission, International Bureau, 445 


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12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7443, Fax: 202 418– 

2824, Email: david.krech@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ77 

314. Update to Parts 2 and 25 

Concerning Nongeostationary, FixedSatellite Service Systems, and Related 

Matters: IB Docket No. I6–408 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 

U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 316 

Abstract: On January 11, 2017, the 

Commission began a rulemaking to 

update its rules and policies concerning 

non-geostationary-satellite orbit 

(NGSO), fixed-satellite service (FSS) 

systems and related matters. The 

Commission proposed among other 

things, to provide for more flexible use 

of the 17.8–20.2 GHz bands for FSS, 

promote shared use of spectrum among 

NGSO FSS satellite systems, and 

remove unnecessary design restrictions 

on NGSO FSS systems. The Commission 

subsequently adopted a Report and 

Order establishing new sharing criteria 

among NGSO FSS systems and 

providing additional flexibility for FSS 

spectrum use. The Commission also 

released a Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking proposing to remove the 

domestic coverage requirement for 

NGSO FSS systems and later adopted a 

Second Report and Order removing this 

requirement. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/11/17 82 FR 3258 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/10/17 

FNPRM ............... 11/15/17 82 FR 52869 

R&O .................... 12/18/17 82 FR 59972 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/02/18 

2nd R&O ............. 02/21/21 86 FR 11642 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

0803, Email: clay.decell@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK59 

315. Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of 

the FCC Rules To Facilitate the Use of 

Earth Stations in Motion 

Communicating With Geostationary 

Orbit Space Stations in FSS Bands: IB 

Docket No. 17–95 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 

U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 

308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316 

Abstract: In June 2017, the 

Commission began a rulemaking to 

streamline, consolidate, and harmonize 

rules governing earth stations in motion 

(ESIMs) used to provide satellite-based 

services on ships, airplanes and vehicles 

communicating with geostationarysatellite orbit (GSO), fixed-satellite 

service (FSS) satellite systems. In 

September 2018, the Commission 

adopted rules governing 

communications of ESIMs with GSO 

satellites. These rules addressed 

communications in the conventional 

C-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, as well as 

portions of the extended Ku-band. At 

the same time, the Commission also 

released a Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking that sought comment on 

allowing ESIMs to operate in all of the 

frequency bands in which earth stations 

at fixed locations operating in GSO FSS 

satellite networks can be blanketlicensed. Specifically, comment was 

sought on expanding the frequencies 

available for communications of ESIMs 

with GSO FSS satellites to include the 

following frequency bands: 10.7–10.95 

GHz, 11.2–11.45 GHz, 17.8–18.3 GHz, 

18.8–19.3 GHz, 19.3–19.4 GHz, 19.6– 

19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth); and 28.6– 

29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space). 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/16/17 82 FR 27652 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/30/17 

OMB-approval for 

Information Collection of R&O 

Comment Period End.

08/28/18 

FNPRM ............... 07/24/20 85 FR 44818 

R&O .................... 07/24/20 85 FR 44772 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/22/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Sean O’More, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

0803, Email: sean.omore@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK84 

316. Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules 

Governing Satellite Services: IB Docket 

No. 18–314 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. secs. 154(i); 

47 U.S.C. 161; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 

316 

Abstract: Under the Commission’s 

rules, satellite operators must follow 

separate application and authorization 

processes for the satellites and earth 

stations that make up their networks 

and have no option for a single, unified 

network license. In a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking, the FCC proposed to create 

a new, optional, unified license to 

include both space stations and earth 

stations operating in a geostationarysatellite orbit, fixed-satellite service 

(GSO FSS) satellite network. In 

addition, the Commission proposed to 

repeal or modify unnecessarily 

burdensome rules in Part 25 governing 

satellite services, such as annual 

reporting requirements. These proposals 

would greatly simplify the 

Commission’s licensing and regulation 

of satellite systems. In a subsequent 

Report and Order, the Commission 

streamlined its rules governing satellite 

services by creating an optional 

framework for the authorization of 

blanket-licensed earth stations and 

space stations in a satellite system 

through a unified license. The 

Commission also aligned the build-out 

requirements for earth stations and 

space stations and eliminated 

unnecessary reporting rules. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/31/19 84 FR 638 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/18/19 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

04/16/19 

Report & Order ... 03/01/21 86 FR 11880 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Clay DeCell, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

0803, Email: clay.decell@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK87 

317. Facilitating the Communications of 

Earth Stations in Motion With NonGeostationary Orbit Space Stations: IB 

Docket No. 18–315 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 

U.S.C. 157(a); 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 

308(b); 47 U.S.C. 316 

Abstract: In November 2018, the 

Commission adopted a notice of 

proposed rulemaking that proposed to 

expand the scope of the Commission’s 

rules governing ESIMs operations to 

cover communications with NGSO FSS 

satellites. Comment was sought on 

establishing a regulatory framework for 

communications of ESIMs with NGSO 

FSS satellites that would be analogous 

to that which exists for ESIMs 

communicating with GSO FSS satellites. 


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In this context, comment was sought on: 

(1) Allowing ESIMs to communicate in 

many of the same conventional Kuband, extended Ku-band, and Ka-band 

frequencies that were allowed for 

communications of ESIMs with GSO 

FSS satellites (with the exception of the 

18.6–18.8 GHz and 29.25–29.5 GHz 

frequency bands); (2) extending blanket 

licensing to ESIMs communicating with 

NGSO satellites; and (3) revisions to 

specific provisions in the Commission’s 

rules to implement these changes. The 

specific frequency bands for 

communications of ESIMs with NGOS 

FSS satellites on which comment was 

sought are as follows: 10.7–11.7 GHz; 

11.7–12.2 GHz; 14.0–14.5 GHz; 17.8– 

18.3 GHz; 18.3–18.6 GHz; 18.8–19.3 

GHz; 19.3–19.4 GHz; 19.6–19.7 GHz; 

19.7–20.2 GHz; 28.35–28.6 GHz; 28.6– 

29.1 GHz; and 29.5–30.0 GHz. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/28/18 83 FR 67180 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/13/19 

R&O .................... 07/24/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Cindy Spiers, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

1593, Email: cindy.spiers@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK89 

318. Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the 

New Space Age: IB Docket No. 18–313 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 

U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 302; 

47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 

308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 

U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336; 

47 U.S.C. 605; 47 U.S.C. 721 

Abstract: The Commission’s current 

orbital debris rules were first adopted in 

2004. Since then, significant changes 

have occurred in satellite technologies 

and market conditions, particularly in 

Low Earth Orbit, i.e., below 2000 

kilometers altitude. These changes 

include the increasing use of lower cost 

small satellites and proposals to deploy 

large constellations of non-geostationary 

satellite orbit (NGSO) systems, some 

involving thousands of satellites. 

The NPRM proposes changes to 

improve disclosure of debris mitigation 

plans. The NPRM also makes proposals 

and seeks comment related to satellite 

disposal reliability and methodology, 

appropriate deployment altitudes in 

low-Earth-orbit, and on-orbit lifetime, 

with a particular focus on large NGSO 

satellite constellations. Other aspects of 

the NPRM include new rule proposals 

for geostationary orbit satellite (GSO) 

license term extension requests, and 

consideration of disclosure 

requirements related to several emerging 

technologies and new types of 

commercial operations, including 

rendezvous and proximity operations. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/19/19 84 FR 4742 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/06/19 

R&O .................... 08/25/20 85 FR 52422 

FNPRM ............... 08/25/20 85 FR 52455 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/09/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Merissa Velez, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

0751, Email: merissa.velez@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK90 

319. Process Reform for Executive 

Branch Review of Certain FCC 

Applications and Petitions Involving 

Foreign Ownership (IB Docket No. 16– 

155) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C 154(l); 47 

U.S.C . 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 

303; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 

U.S.C. 413; 47 U.S.C. 34–39; E.O. 10530; 

3 U.S.C. 301 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission considers rules and 

procedures that streamline and improve 

the timeliness and transparency of the 

process by which the Commission refers 

certain applications and petitions for 

declaratory ruling to the Executive 

Branch agencies for assessment of any 

national security, law enforcement, 

foreign policy or trade policy issues 

related to foreign investment in the 

applicants and petitioners. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/24/16 81 FR 46870 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/02/16 

Public Notice ....... 04/27/20 85 FR 29914 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

09/02/20 

Report & Order ... 10/01/20 85 FR 76360 

Public Notice ....... 12/30/20 85 FR 12312 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

04/19/21 

Action Date FR Cite 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Arthur T. Lechtman, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 

International Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

1465, Fax: 202 418–0175, Email: 

arthur.lechtman@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL12 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Media Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

320. Revision of EEO Rules and Policies 

(MM Docket No. 98–204) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 257; 47 U.S.C. 301; 

47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 

U.S.C. 334; 47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 554 

Abstract: FCC authority to govern 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 

responsibilities of cable television 

operators was codified in the Cable 

Communications Policy Act of 1984. 

This authority was extended to 

television broadcast licensees and other 

multi-channel video programming 

distributors in the Cable and Television 

Consumer Protection Act of 1992. In the 

Second Report and Order, the FCC 

adopted new EEO rules and policies. 

This action was in response to a 

decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for 

the District of Columbia Circuit that 

found prior EEO rules unconstitutional. 

The Third Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (NPRM) requests comment 

as to the applicability of the EEO rules 

to part-time employees. The Third 

Report and Order adopted revised forms 

for broadcast station and MVPDs 

Annual Employment Report. In the 

Fourth NPRM, comment was sought 

regarding public access to the data 

contained in the forms. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/14/02 67 FR 1704 

Second R&O and 

Third NPRM.

01/07/03 68 FR 670 

Correction ............ 01/13/03 68 FR 1657 

Fourth NPRM ...... 06/23/04 69 FR 34986 

Third R&O ........... 06/23/04 69 FR 34950 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 


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Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, 

Chief, Industry Analysis Division, 

Media Bureau, Federal Communications 

Commission, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

2486, Email: brendan.holland@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AH95 

321. Establishment of Rules for Digital 

Low-Power Television, Television 

Translator, and Television Booster 

Stations (MB Docket No. 03–185) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 

U.S.C. 336 

Abstract: This proceeding initiated 

the digital television conversion for lowpower television (LPTV) and television 

translator stations. The rules and 

policies adopted as a result of this 

proceeding provide the framework for 

these stations’ conversion from analog 

to digital broadcasting. 

The Report and Order adopts 

definitions and permissible use 

provisions for digital TV translator and 

LPTV stations. The Second Report and 

Order takes steps to resolve the 

remaining issues in order to complete 

the low-power television digital 

transition. The third Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking seeks comment on a 

number of issues related to the potential 

impact of the incentive auction and the 

repacking process. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/26/03 68 FR 55566 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/25/03 

R&O .................... 11/29/04 69 FR 69325 

FNPRM and 

MO&O.

10/18/10 75 FR 63766 

2nd R&O ............. 07/07/11 76 FR 44821 

3rd NPRM ........... 11/28/14 79 FR 70824 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/29/14 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

01/12/15 

3rd R&O .............. 02/01/16 81 FR 5041 

4th NPRM ........... 02/01/16 81 FR 5086 

Comment Period 

End.

02/22/16 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, 

Attorney, Video Division, Federal 

Communications Commission, Media 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–2324, Fax: 202 

418–2827, Email: shaun.maher@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AI38 

322. Amendment of the Commission’s 

Rules Related to Retransmission 

Consent (MB Docket No. 10–71) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 

U.S.C. 325; 47 U.S.C. 534 

Abstract: Cable systems and other 

multichannel video programming 

distributors are not entitled to 

retransmit a broadcast station’s signal 

without the station’s consent. This 

consent is known as ‘‘retransmission 

consent.’’ Since Congress enacted the 

retransmission consent regime in 1992, 

there have been significant changes in 

the video programming marketplace. In 

this proceeding, comment is sought on 

a series of proposals to streamline and 

clarify the Commission’s rules 

concerning or affecting retransmission 

consent negotiations. 

In the 2014 Report and Order, the 

Commission adopted a rule providing 

that it is a violation of the duty to 

negotiate retransmission consent in 

good faith for a television station that is 

ranked among the top four stations to 

negotiate retransmission consent jointly 

with another such station if the stations 

are not commonly owned and serve the 

same geographic market. 

In 2019, the Commission sought 

comment on amending the rules 

concerning notices cable operators must 

provide to subscribers. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 03/28/11 76 FR 17071 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/27/11 

R&O .................... 05/19/14 79 FR 28615 

NPRM .................. 10/02/15 80 FR 59706 

NPRM .................. 01/07/20 85 FR 656 

Report & Order ... 11/12/20 85 FR 71843 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John Cobb, Attorney, 

Policy Division, Media Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2120 Email: john.cobb@

fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ55 

323. Preserving Vacant Channels in the 

UHF Television Band for Unlicensed 

Use; (MB Docket No. 15–146) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 

47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 

308; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 310; 47 

U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 

47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 403 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission considers proposals to 

preserve vacant television channels in 

the UHF television band for shared use 

by white space devices and wireless 

microphones following the repacking of 

the band after the conclusion of the 

Incentive Auction. In the NPRM, the 

Commission proposed preserving in 

each area of the country at least one 

vacant television channel. In the Public 

Notice, the Commission notes that a 

limited number of broadcast television 

stations may be reassigned during the 

incentive auction and repacking process 

to channels within the duplex gap 

established as part of the 600 MHz Band 

Plan, resulting in a restriction on the 

ability of white space devices and 

wireless microphone to use this 

spectrum. To address this concern, the 

Public Notice tentatively concluded that 

a second available television channel 

should be preserved in the remaining 

television band in such areas for shared 

use by white space devices and wireless 

microphones, in addition to the one 

such channel proposed in the NPRM. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 07/02/15 80 FR 38158 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/03/15 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

08/31/15 

Public Notice ....... 09/01/15 80 FR 52715 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Shaun Maher, 

Attorney, Video Division, Federal 

Communications Commission, Media 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–2324, Fax: 202 

418–2827, Email: shaun.maher@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK43 

324. Authorizing Permissive Use of the 

‘‘Next Generation’’ Broadcast 

Television Standard (GN Docket No. 

16–142) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 301; 

47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 309; 47 

U.S.C. 316; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 

325(b); 47 U.S.C. 336; 47 U.S.C. 399(b); 

47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 534; 47 U.S.C. 

535 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission seeks to authorize 

television broadcasters to use the ‘‘Next 

Generation’’ ATSC 3.0 broadcast 

television transmission standard on a 

voluntary, market-driven basis, while 

they continue to deliver currentgeneration digital television broadcast 

service to their viewers. In the Report 

and Order, the Commission adopted 


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rules to afford broadcasters flexibility to 

deploy ATSC 3.0-based transmissions, 

while minimizing the impact on, and 

costs to, consumers and other industry 

stakeholders. 

In the 2nd R&O, the Commission 

provided additional guidance to 

broadcasters deploying Next Gen TV. 

In 2021, the Commission made a 

technical modification to the rules 

governing the use of a distribution 

transmission system by a television 

station to account for deployment of 

ATSC 3.0. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 03/10/17 82 FR 13285 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/09/17 

FNPRM ............... 12/20/17 82 FR 60350 

R&O .................... 02/02/18 83 FR 4998 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/20/18 

FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

03/20/18 

NPRM .................. 05/13/20 85 FR 28586 

2nd R&O Order 

on Recon.

07/17/20 85 FR 43478 

Report & Order ... To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Evan Baranoff, 

Attorney, Policy Division, Federal 

Communications Commission, Media 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–7142, Email: 

evan.baranoff@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK56 

325. 2018 Quadrennial Regulatory 

Review of the Commission’s Broadcast 

Ownership Rules (MB Docket 18–349) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 152(a); 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 

257; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 

U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 403; sec. 

202(h) of the Telecommunications Act 

Abstract: Section 202(h) of the 

Telecommunications Act of 1996 

requires the Commission to review its 

broadcast ownership rules every 4 years 

and to determine whether any such 

rules are necessary in the public interest 

as the result of competition. The rules 

subject to review in the 2018 

quadrennial review are the Local Radio 

Ownership Rule, the Local Television 

Ownership Rule, and the Dual Network 

Rule. The Commission also sought 

comment on potential pro-diversity 

proposals including extending cable 

procurement requirements to 

broadcasters, adopting formulas aimed 

at creating media ownership limits that 

promote diversity, and developing a 

model for market-based, tradeable 

diversity credits to serve as an 

alternative method for setting 

ownership limits. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 02/28/19 84FR 6741 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Brendan Holland, 

Chief, Industry Analysis Division, 

Media Bureau, Federal Communications 

Commission, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

2486, Email: brendan.holland@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK77 

326. Children’s Television 

Programming Rules (MB Docket 18– 

202) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 

U.S.C. 303b; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 

336 

Abstract: The Children’s Television 

Act (CTA) of 1990 requires that the 

Commission consider, in its review of 

television license renewals, the extent to 

which the licensee has served the 

educational and informational needs of 

children through its overall 

programming, including programming 

specifically designed to serve such 

needs. The Commission adopted rules 

implementing the CTA in 1991 and 

revised these rules in 1996, 2004, and 

2006. In this proceeding, the 

Commission proposes to revise the 

children’s television programming rules 

to modify outdated requirements and to 

give broadcasters greater flexibility in 

serving the educational and 

informational needs of children. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 07/25/18 83 FR 35158 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/28/18 

R&O .................... 08/16/19 84 FR 41947 

FNPRM ............... 08/16/19 84 FR 41949 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/16/19 

FNPRM Rerply 

Comment Period End.

10/15/19 

Move to Inactive 

Status.

01/25/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Kathy Berthot, 

Attorney, Policy Division Media Bureau, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7454, Email: 

kathy.berthot@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK78 

327. Equal Employment Opportunity 

Enforcement (MB Docket 19–177) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 

334; 47 U.S.C. 554 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission seeks comment on ways in 

which it can make improvements to 

equal employment opportunity (EEO) 

compliance and enforcement. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 07/22/19 84 FR 35063 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, 

Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media Bureau, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1523, Email: 

radhika.karmarkar@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK86 

328. Revision of the Commission’s Part 

76 Review Procedures (MB Docket No. 

20–70) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 

303(r); 47 U.S.C. 536; 47 U.S.C. 548; 47 

U.S.C. 573 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission considers changes to 

procedural rules governing the 

resolution of program carriage disputes 

between video programming vendors 

and multichannel video programming 

distributors. The rule changes are 

intended to make the Commission’s 

procedures more consistent and 

encourage the timely resolution of 

program carriage disputes. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/16/20 85 FR 21131 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/18/20 

Report & Order ... 12/17/20 85 FR 81805 

Move to Inactive 

Status.

01/25/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John Cobb, Attorney, 

Policy Division, Media Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2120, Email: 

john.cobb@fcc.gov. 


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RIN: 3060–AL08 

329. • Duplication of Programming on 

Commonly Owned Radio Stations (MB 

Docket No. 19–310) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154(i), 

154(j), and 303(r) 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission seeks comment on whether 

to modify or eliminate the radio 

duplication rule. The rule bars sameservice (AM or FM) commercial radio 

stations from duplicating more than 

25% of their total hours of programming 

in an average broadcast week if the 

stations have 50% or more contour 

overlap and are commonly owned or 

subject to a time brokerage agreement. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 12/23/19 84 FR 70485 

Report & Order ... 10/22/20 85 FR 67303 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Jamile Kadre, 

Industry Analysis Division, Media 

Bureau, Federal Communications 

Commission, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

2245, Email: jamile.kadre@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL19 

330. • Sponsorship Identification 

Requirements for Foreign GovernmentProvided Programming (MB Docket No. 

20–299) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151. 154, 

155, 301, 303, 307, 309, 310, 334, 336, 

339 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission seeks comment on rules 

proposing to require specific disclosure 

requirements for broadcast 

programming that is paid for, or 

provided by a foreign government or its 

representative. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/24/20 85 FR 74955 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Radhika Karmarker, 

Attorney Advisor, IAD, Media Bureau, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1523, Email: 

radhika.karmarkar@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL20 

331. • FM Broadcast Booster Stations 

(MB Docket 20–401) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 

157, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 316, 

319, 324 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission proposes to amend its rules 

to enable FM broadcasters to use FM 

booster stations to air geo-targeted 

content (e.g., news, weather, and 

advertisements) independent of the 

signals of its primary station within 

different portions of the primary 

station’s protected service contour for a 

limited period of time during the 

broadcast hour. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/11/21 86 FR 1909 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Al Shuldiner, Chief, 

Audio Div., Media Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2700, Email: 

albert.shuldiner@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL21 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Office of Managing Director 

Long-Term Actions 

332. Assessment and Collection of 

Regulatory Fees 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 159 

Abstract: Section 9 of the 

Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended (47 U.S.C. 159), requires the 

Federal Communications Commission 

to recover the cost of its activities by 

assessing and collecting annual 

regulatory fees from beneficiaries of the 

activities. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/06/17 82 FR 26019 

R&O .................... 09/22/17 82 FR 44322 

NPRM .................. 06/14/18 83 FR 27846 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

06/21/18 

R&O .................... 09/18/18 83 FR 47079 

NPRM .................. 06/05/19 84 FR 26234 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

06/07/19 

R&O .................... 09/26/19 84 FR 50890 

NPRM .................. 05/08/20 85 FR 32256 

R&O .................... 06/22/20 85 FR 37364 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Roland Helvajian, 

Office of the Managing Director, Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th 

Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0444, Email: 

roland.helvajian@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK64 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Public Safety and Homeland Security 

Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

333. Wireless E911 Location Accuracy 

Requirements: PS Docket No. 07–114 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 332 

Abstract: This rulemaking is related to 

the proceedings in which the FCC 

previously acted to improve the quality 

of all emergency services. Wireless 

carriers must provide specific automatic 

location information in connection with 

911 emergency calls to Public Safety 

Answering Points (PSAPs). Wireless 

licensees must satisfy enhanced 911 

location accuracy standards at either a 

county-based or a PSAP-based 

geographic level. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/20/07 72 FR 33948 

R&O .................... 02/14/08 73 FR 8617 

Public Notice ....... 09/25/08 73 FR 55473 

FNPRM; NOI ....... 11/02/10 75 FR 67321 

Public Notice ....... 11/18/09 74 FR 59539 

2nd R&O ............. 11/18/10 75 FR 70604 

Second NPRM .... 08/04/11 76 FR 47114 

Second NPRM 

Comment Period End.

11/02/11 

Final Rule ............ 04/28/11 76 FR 23713 

NPRM, 3rd R&O, 

and 2nd 

FNPRM.

09/28/11 76 FR 59916 

3rd FNPRM ......... 03/28/14 79 FR 17820 

Order Extending 

Comment Period.

06/10/14 79 FR 33163 

3rd FNPRM Comment Period 

End.

07/14/14 

Public Notice (Release Date).11/20/14 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

12/17/14 

4th R&O .............. 03/04/15 80 FR 11806 

Final Rule ............ 08/03/15 80 FR 45897 

Order Granting 

Waiver.

07/10/17 

NPRM .................. 09/26/18 83 FR 54180 

4th NPRM ........... 03/18/19 84 FR 13211 

Next Action Undetermined.


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41344 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Brenda Boykin, 

Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 

Homeland Security Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2062, Email: 

brenda.boykin@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ52 

334. Improving Outage Reporting for 

Submarine Cables and Enhancing 

Submarine Cable Outage Data; GN 

Docket No. 15–206 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 34 to 39; 47 U.S.C. 

301 

Abstract: This proceeding takes steps 

toward assuring the reliability and 

resiliency of submarine cables, a critical 

piece of the Nation’s communications 

infrastructure, by proposing to require 

submarine cable licensees to report to 

the Commission when outages occur 

and communications are disrupted. The 

Commission’s intent is to enhance 

national security and emergency 

preparedness by these actions. In 

December 2019, the Commission 

adopted an Order on Reconsideration 

that modifies the requirement for 

submarine cable licensees to report 

outages to the Commission. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM (Release 

Date).

09/18/15 

R&O .................... 06/24/16 81 FR 52354 

Petitions for 

Recon.

09/08/16 

Petitions for 

Recon—Public 

Comment.

10/17/16 81 FR 75368 

Order on Recon. 12/20/19 84 FR 15733 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Scott Cinnamon, 

Attorney-Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2319, Email: 

scott.cinnamon@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK39 

335. Amendments to Part 4 of the 

Commission’s Rules Concerning 

Disruptions to Communications: PS 

Docket No. 15–80 

Legal Authority: Sec. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 4(o), 

251(e)(3), 254, 301, 303(b), 303(g), 

303(r), 307, 309(a), 309(j); 316, 332, 403, 

615a–1, and 615c of Pub. L. 73–416, 4 

Stat. 1064, as amended; and section 706 

of Pub. L. 104–104, 110 Stat. 56; 47 

U.S.C. 151, 154(i)–(j) & (o), 251(e)(3), 

254, 301, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 307; 

309(a), 309(j), 316, 332, 403, 615a–1, 

615c, and 1302, unless otherwise noted 

Abstract: The 2004 Report and Order 

(R&O) extended the Commission’s 

communication disruptions reporting 

rules to non-wireline carriers and 

streamlined reporting through a new 

electronic template (see docket ET 

Docket 04–35). In 2015, this proceeding, 

PS Docket 15–80, was opened to amend 

the original communications disruption 

reporting rules from 2004 in order to 

reflect technology transitions observed 

throughout the telecommunications 

sector. The Commission seeks to further 

study the possibility to share the 

reporting database information and 

access with State and other Federal 

entities. In May 2016, the Commission 

released a Report and Order, FNPRM, 

and Order on Reconsideration (see also 

Dockets 11–82 and 04–35). The R&O 

adopted rules to update the part 4 

requirements to reflect technology 

transitions. The FNPRM sought 

comment on sharing information in the 

reporting database. Comments and 

replies were received by the 

Commission in August and September 

2016. 

In March 2020, the Commission 

adopted a Second Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking in PS Docket No. 

15–80 that proposed a framework to 

provide state and federal agencies with 

access to outage information to improve 

their situational awareness while 

preserving the confidentiality of this 

data, including proposals to: Provide 

direct, read-only access to NORS and 

DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the 

50 states, the District of Columbia, 

Tribal nations, territories, and federal 

government; allow these agencies to 

share NORS and DIRS information with 

other public safety officials that 

reasonably require NORS and DIRS 

information to prepare for and respond 

to disasters; allow participating agencies 

to publicly disclose NORS or DIRS filing 

information that is aggregated and 

anonymized across at least four service 

providers; condition a participating 

agency’s direct access to NORS and 

DIRS filings on their agreement to treat 

the filings as confidential and not 

disclose them absent a finding by the 

Commission that allows them to do so; 

and establish an application process 

that would grant agencies access to 

NORS and DIRS after those agencies 

certify to certain requirements related to 

maintaining confidentiality of the data 

and the security of the databases. In 

March 2021, the Commission adopted 

the proposed information sharing 

framework with some modifications in 

a Second Report and Order. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM, 2nd R&O, 

Order on Recon.

06/16/15 80 FR 34321 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/31/15 

R&O .................... 07/12/16 81 FR 45055 

FNPRM, 1 Part 4 

R&O, Order on 

Recon.

08/11/16 81 FR 45059 

Order Denying 

Reply Comment 

Deadline Extension Request.

09/08/16 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/12/16 

Announcement of 

Effective Date 

for Rule 

Changes in 

R&O.

06/22/17 82 FR 28410 

Announcement of 

Effective Date 

for Rule 

Changes in 

R&O.

06/22/17 82 FR 28410 

Second Further 

NPRM.

02/28/20 85 FR 17818 

Second Further 

NPRM Comment Period 

End.

06/01/20 

2nd R&O ............. 03/17/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Robert Finley, 

Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 

Homeland Security Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7835, Email: 

robert.finley@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK40 

336. New Part 4 of the Commission’s 

Rules Concerning Disruptions to 

Communications; ET Docket No. 04–35 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154 and 

155; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 251; 47 

U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 316 

Abstract: The proceeding creates a 

new part 4 in title 47 and amends part 

63.100. The proceeding updates the 

Commission’s communication 

disruptions reporting rules for wireline 

providers formerly in 47 CFR 63.100 

and extends these rules to other nonwireline providers. Through this 

proceeding, the Commission streamlines 

the reporting process through an 

electronic template. The Report and 

Order received several petitions for 

reconsideration, of which two were 

eventually withdrawn. In 2015, seven 

were addressed in an Order on 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 41345 

Reconsideration and in 2016 another 

petition was addressed in an Order on 

Reconsideration. One petition (CPUC 

Petition) remains pending regarding 

NORS database sharing with States, 

which is addressed in a separate 

proceeding, PS Docket 15–80. To the 

extent the communication disruption 

rules cover VoIP, the Commission 

studies and addresses these questions in 

a separate docket, PS Docket 11–82. 

In May 2016, the Commission 

released a Report and Order, FNPRM, 

and Order on Reconsideration (see 

Dockets 11–82 and 15–80). The Order 

on Reconsideration addressed outage 

reporting for events at airports, and the 

FNPRM sought comment on database 

sharing. The Commission received 

comments and replies in August and 

September 2016. 

In March 2020, the Commission 

adopted a Second Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking in PS Docket No. 

15–80 that proposed a framework to 

provide state and federal agencies with 

access to outage information to improve 

their situational awareness while 

preserving the confidentiality of this 

data, including proposals to: Provide 

direct, read-only access to NORS and 

DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the 

50 states, the District of Columbia, 

Tribal nations, territories, and federal 

government; allow these agencies to 

share NORS and DIRS information with 

other public safety officials that 

reasonably require NORS and DIRS 

information to prepare for and respond 

to disasters; allow participating agencies 

to publicly disclose NORS or DIRS filing 

information that is aggregated and 

anonymized across at least four service 

providers; condition a participating 

agency’s direct access to NORS and 

DIRS filings on their agreement to treat 

the filings as confidential and not 

disclose them absent a finding by the 

Commission that allows them to do so; 

and establish an application process 

that would grant agencies access to 

NORS and DIRS after those agencies 

certify to certain requirements related to 

maintaining confidentiality of the data 

and the security of the databases. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 03/26/04 69 FR 15761 

R&O .................... 11/26/04 69 FR 68859 

Denial for Petition 

for Partial Stay.

12/02/04 

Seek Comment 

on Petition for 

Recon.

02/02/10 

Reply Period End 03/19/10 

Action Date FR Cite 

Seek Comment 

on Broadband 

and Interconnected 

VOIP Service 

Providers.

07/02/10 

Reply Period End 08/16/12 

2nd R&O, and 

Order on 

Recon, NPRM.

06/16/15 80 FR 34321 

R&O .................... 07/12/16 81 FR 45055 

FNPRM, 1 Part 4 

R&O, Order on 

Recon.

08/11/16 81 FR 

45095, 81 

FR 45055 

Order Denying 

Extension of 

Time to File 

Reply Comments.

09/08/16 

Announcement of 

Effective Date 

for Rule 

Changes in 

R&O.

06/22/17 82 FR 28410 

Second Further 

NPRM.

02/28/20 85 FR 17818 

Second Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

03/31/20 

Second Further 

NPRM Comment Period 

End.

06/01/20 

Report & Order ... To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Robert Finley, 

Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 

Homeland Security Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7835, Email: 

robert.finley@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK41 

337. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): 

PS Docket No. 15–91 

Legal Authority: Pub. L. 109–347, title 

VI; 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) 

Abstract: This proceeding was 

initiated to improve Wireless 

Emergency Alerts (WEA) messaging, 

ensure that WEA alerts reach only those 

individuals to whom they are relevant, 

and establish an end-to-end testing 

program based on advancements in 

technology. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/19/15 80 FR 77289 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/13/16 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

02/12/16 

Order ................... 11/01/16 81 FR 75710 

Action Date FR Cite 

FNPRM ............... 11/08/16 81 FR 78539 

Comment Period 

End.

12/08/16 

Petition for Recon 12/19/16 81 FR 91899 

Order on Recon .. 12/04/17 82 FR 57158 

2nd R&O and 2nd 

Order on Recon.

02/28/18 83 FR 8619 

Public Notice ....... 04/26/18 83 FR 18257 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

05/29/18 

Public Notice 

Reply Comment 

Period End.

06/11/18 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: James Wiley, 

Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and 

Homeland Security Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1678, Email: 

james.wiley@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK54 

338. Blue Alert EAS Event Code 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 

152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(o); 47 

U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(r) and (v); 47 

U.S.C. 307; 47 U.S.C. 309; 47 U.S.C. 335; 

47 U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 544 (g); 47 

U.S.C. 606 and 615 

Abstract: In 2015, Congress adopted 

the Blue Alert Act to help the States 

provide effective alerts to the public and 

law enforcement when police and other 

law enforcement officers are killed or 

are in danger. To ensure that these State 

plans are compatible and integrated 

throughout the United States as 

envisioned by the Blue Alert Act, the 

Blue Alert Coordinator made a series of 

recommendations in a 2016 Report to 

Congress. Among these 

recommendations, the Blue Alert 

Coordinator identified the need for a 

dedicated EAS event code for Blue 

Alerts, and noted the alignment of the 

EAS with the implementation of the 

Blue Alert Act. On June 22, 2017, the 

FCC released an NPRM proposing to 

revise the EAS rules to adopt a new 

event code, which would allow 

transmission of Blue Alerts to the public 

over the EAS and thus satisfy the stated 

need for a dedicated EAS event code. 

On December 14, 2017, the Commission 

released an Order adopting a new Blue 

Alert EAS Code-BLU. EAS participants 

must be able to implement the BLU 

code by January 19, 2019. BLU alerts 

must be available to wireless emergency 

alerts by July, 2019. 

Timetable: 


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Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/30/17 82 FR 29811 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/31/17 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

08/29/17 

Order ................... 12/14/18 83 FR 2557 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Linda Pintro, 

Attorney Advisor, Policy and Licensing 

Division, PSHSB, Federal 

Communications Commission, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7490, Email: 

linda.pintro@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK63 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

339. Amendment of Parts 1, 2, 22, 24, 

27, 90, and 95 of the Commission’s 

Rules To Improve Wireless Coverage 

Through the Use of Signal Boosters (WT 

Docket No. 10–4) 

Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 79; 47 

U.S.C. 151; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 

154(j); 47 U.S.C. 155; 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 

U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 

303(r) 

Abstract: This action adopts new 

technical, operational, and registration 

requirements for signal boosters. It 

creates two classes of signal boosters— 

consumer and industrial—with distinct 

regulatory requirements for each, 

thereby establishing a two-step 

transition process for equipment 

certification for both consumer and 

industrial signal boosters sold and 

marketed in the United States. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 05/10/11 76 FR 26983 

R&O .................... 04/11/13 78 FR 21555 

Petition for Reconsideration.06/06/13 78 FR 34015 

Order on Reconsideration.11/08/14 79 FR 70790 

FNPRM ............... 11/28/14 79 FR 70837 

2nd R&O and 2nd 

FNPRM.

03/23/18 83 FR 17131 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Jaclyn Rosen, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0154, Email: 

jaclyn.rosen@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ87 

340. Amendment of the Commission’s 

Rules Governing Certain Aviation 

Ground Station Equipment (Squitter) 

(WT Docket Nos. 10–61 and 09–42) 

Legal Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082 as 

amended; 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 303; 

47 U.S.C. 307(e); 47 U.S.C. 151 to 156; 

47 U.S.C. 301 

Abstract: This action amends part 87 

rules to authorize new ground station 

technologies to promote safety and 

allow use of frequency 1090 MHz by 

aeronautical utility mobile stations for 

airport surface detection equipment 

(commonly referred to as ‘‘squitters’’) to 

help reduce collisions between aircraft 

and airport ground vehicles. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/28/10 75 FR 22352 

R&O .................... 03/01/13 78 FR 61023 

NPRM (release 

date).

06/07/19 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Tim Maguire, 

Electronics Engineer, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2155, Fax: 202 418– 

7247, Email: tim.maguire@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ88 

341. Promoting Technological Solutions 

To Combat Wireless Contraband Device 

Use in Correctional Facilities; GN 

Docket No. 13–111 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 152; 

47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 47 

U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303(a); 47 U.S.C. 

303(b); 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47 U.S.C. 

332; 47 U.S.C. 302(a) 

Abstract: In the Report and Order, the 

Commission addresses the problem of 

illegal use of contraband wireless 

devices by inmates in correctional 

facilities by streamlining the process of 

deploying contraband wireless device 

interdiction systems (CIS)—systems that 

use radio communications signals 

requiring Commission authorization—in 

correctional facilities. In particular, the 

Commission eliminates certain filing 

requirements and provides for 

immediate approval of the lease 

applications needed to operate these 

systems. 

In the Further Notice, the Commission 

seeks comment on a process for wireless 

providers to disable contraband wireless 

devices once they have been identified. 

The Commission also seeks comment on 

additional methods and technologies 

that might prove successful in 

combating contraband device use in 

correctional facilities, and on various 

other proposals related to the 

authorization process for CISs and their 

deployment. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/18/13 78 FR 36469 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/08/13 

FNPRM ............... 05/18/17 82 FR 22780 

R&O .................... 05/18/17 82 FR 22742 

Final Rule Effective (Except for 

Rules Requiring 

OMB Approval).

06/19/17 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/17/17 

Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR 

1.9020(n), 

1.9030(m), 

1.9035(o), and 

20.23(a).

10/20/17 82 FR 48773 

Final Rule Effective for 47 CFR 

1.902(d)(8), 

1.9035(d)(4), 

20.18(a), and 

20.18(r).

02/12/18 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Melissa Conway, 

Attorney Advisor, Mobility Div., 

Wireless Bureau, Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th 

Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–2887, Email: 

melissa.conway@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK06 

342. Promoting Investment in the 3550– 

3700 MHz Band; GN Docket No. 17–258 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 

152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 154(j); 

47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 U.S.C. 303 and 304; 

47 U.S.C. 307(e); 47 U.S.C. 316 

Abstract: The Report and Order and 

Second Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the 

Commission established a new Citizens 

Broadband Radio Service for shared 

wireless broadband use of the 3550 to 

3700 MHz band. The Citizens 

Broadband Radio Service is governed by 

a three-tiered spectrum authorization 

framework to accommodate a variety of 

commercial uses on a shared basis with 

incumbent Federal and non-Federal 

users of the band. Access and operations 


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will be managed by a dynamic spectrum 

access system. The three tiers are: 

Incumbent Access, Priority Access, and 

General Authorized Access. Rules 

governing the Citizens Broadband Radio 

Service are found in part 96 of the 

Commission’s rules. 

The Order on Reconsideration and 

Second Report and Order addressed 

several Petitions for Reconsideration 

submitted in response to the Report and 

Order and resolved the outstanding 

issues raised in the Second Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 

The 2017 NPRM sought comment on 

limited changes to the rules governing 

Priority Access Licenses in the band, 

adjacent channel emissions limits, and 

public release of base station 

registration information. 

The 2018 Report and Order addressed 

the issues raised in the 2017 NPRM and 

implemented changes rules governing 

Priority Access Licenses in the band and 

public release of base station 

registration information. 

On July 2020, the Commission 

commenced an auction of Priority 

Access Licenses in the band. ‘‘Winning 

bidders were announced on September 

2, 2020’’. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/08/13 78 FR 1188 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/19/13 

FNPRM ............... 06/02/14 79 FR 31247 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/15/14 

R&O and 2nd 

FNPRM.

06/15/15 80 FR 34119 

2nd FNPRM 

Comment Period End.

08/14/15 

Order on Recon 

and 2nd R&O.

07/26/16 81 FR 49023 

NPRM .................. 11/28/17 82 FR 56193 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/29/18 

R&O .................... 12/07/18 83 FR 6306 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Paul Powell, 

Assistant Chief, Mobility Division, 

WTB, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1613, Email: 

paul.powell@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK12 

343. Use of Spectrum Bands Above 24 

GHz for Mobile Services—Spectrum 

Frontiers: WT Docket 10–112 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 154; 

47 U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 160; 47 U.S.C. 

201; 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 

U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47 U.S.C. 302(a); 47 

U.S.C. 303 and 304; 47 U.S.C. 307; 47 

U.S.C. 309 and 310; 47 U.S.C. 316; 47 

U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 U.S.C. 336; 

47 U.S.C. 1302 

Abstract: In this proceeding, the 

Commission adopted service rules for 

licensing of mobile and other uses for 

millimeter wave (mmW) bands. These 

high frequencies previously have been 

best suited for satellite or fixed 

microwave applications; however, 

recent technological breakthroughs have 

newly enabled advanced mobile 

services in these bands, notably 

including very high speed and low 

latency services. This action will help 

facilitate Fifth Generation mobile 

services and other mobile services. In 

developing service rules for mmW 

bands, the Commission will facilitate 

access to spectrum, develop a flexible 

spectrum policy, and encourage 

wireless innovation. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/13/16 81 FR 1802 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/26/16 

FNPRM ............... 08/24/16 81 FR 58269 

Comment Period 

End.

09/30/16 

FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

10/31/16 

R&O .................... 11/14/16 81 FR 79894 

R&O .................... 01/02/18 83 FR 37 

FNPRM ............... 01/02/18 83 FR 85 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/23/18 

R&O .................... 07/20/18 83 FR 34478 

FNPRM ............... 07/20/18 83 FR 34520 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/28/18 

R&O .................... 02/05/19 84 FR 1618 

R&O .................... 05/01/19 84 FR 18405 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John Schauble, 

Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0797, Email: 

john.schauble@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK44 

344. Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, 

WT Docket No. 18–120 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 to 153; 

47 U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 157; 47 

U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 301 and 302; 47 

U.S.C. 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 to 310; 47 

U.S.C. 1302 

Abstract: The 2.5 GHz band (2496– 

2690 MHz) constitutes the single largest 

band of contiguous spectrum below 3 

GHz and has been identified as prime 

spectrum for next generation mobile 

operations, including 5G uses. 

Significant portions of this band, 

however, currently lie fallow across 

approximately one-half of the United 

States, primarily in rural areas. 

Moreover, access to the Educational 

Broadband Service (EBS) has been 

strictly limited since 1995, and current 

licensees are subject to a regulatory 

regime largely unchanged from the days 

when educational TV was the only use 

envisioned for this spectrum. The 

Commission proposes to allow more 

efficient and effective use of this 

spectrum band by providing greater 

flexibility to current EBS licensees as 

well as providing new opportunities for 

additional entities to obtain unused 2.5 

GHz spectrum to facilitate improved 

access to next generation wireless 

broadband, including 5G. The 

Commission also seeks comment on 

additional approaches for transforming 

the 2.5 GHz band, including by moving 

directly to an auction for some or all of 

the spectrum. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/07/18 83 FR 26396 

NPRM Comment 

Period Extended.

06/21/18 83 FR 31515 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/07/18 

Final Rule ............ 10/25/19 84 FR 57343 

Dismissal of Petitions for Reconsideration.02/23/21 86 FR 10839 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: John Schauble, 

Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0797, Email: 

john.schauble@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK75 

345. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 

to 4.2 GHz Band: GN Docket No. 18–122 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C.151 to 153; 

47 U.S.C.154(i); 47 U.S.C 157; 47 U.S.C. 

201; 47 U.S.C. 301 to 304; 47 U.S.C. 307 

to 310; 47 U.S.C. 1302; . . . 

Abstract: In the 2020 Report and 

Order, the Commission adopted rules to 

make 280 megahertz of mid-band 


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spectrum available for flexible use (plus 

a 20-megahertz guard band) throughout 

the contiguous United States. Pursuant 

to the Report and Order, existing fixed 

satellite service (FSS) and fixed services 

(FS) must relocate operations out of the 

lower portion of the 3.7–4.0 GHz band. 

The Commission will issue flexible use 

licenses in the 3.7–3.98 GHz portion of 

the band in the contiguous United 

States via a system of competitive 

bidding. The Commission established 

rules to govern the transition including 

optional payments for satellite operators 

that choose to relocate on an accelerated 

schedule and provide reimbursement to 

FSS operators and their associated earth 

stations for reasonable expenses 

incurred to facilitate the transition. The 

Report and Order also established 

service and technical rules for the new 

flexible use licenses that will be issued 

in the 3.7–3.98 GHz portion of the band. 

‘‘On December 8, 2020, the Commission 

began an auction of licenses in the 3.7– 

3.98 GHz portion of the band. the 

winning bidders were announced on 

February 24, 2021’’. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 08/29/18 83 FR 44128 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/27/18 

Public Notice ....... 05/20/19 84 FR 22733 

Certifications and 

Data Filing 

Deadline.

05/28/19 

Public Notice ....... 06/03/19 84 FR 22514 

Public Notice 

Comment Period End.

07/03/19 

Public Notice 

Reply Comment 

Period End.

07/18/19 

R&O .................... 04/23/20 85 FR 22804 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Peter Daronco, 

Deputy Division Chief, Broadband 

Division, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7235, Email: 

peter.daronco@fcc.gov. 

Paul Powell, Assistant Chief, Mobility 

Division, WTB, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1613, Email: 

paul.powell@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK76 

346. Amendment of the Commission’s 

Rules To Promote Aviation Safety: WT 

Docket No. 19–140 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 

U.S.C. 303; 307(e) 

Abstract: The Federal 

Communications Commission regulates 

the Aviation Radio Service, a family of 

services using dedicated spectrum to 

enhance the safety of aircraft in flight, 

facilitate the efficient movement of 

aircraft both in the air and on the 

ground, and otherwise ensure the 

reliability and effectiveness of aviation 

communications. Recent technological 

advances have prompted the 

Commission to open this new 

rulemaking proceeding to ensure the 

timely deployment and use of today’s 

state-of-the-art safety-enhancing 

technologies. With this Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission 

proposes changes to its part 87 Aviation 

Radio Service rules to support the 

deployment of more advanced avionics 

technology, increase the efficient use of 

limited spectrum resources, and 

generally improve aviation safety. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 07/02/19 84 FR 31542 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/03/19 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

09/30/19 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Jeff Tobias, Attorney 

Advisor, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–1617, Email: 

jeff.tobias@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK92 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Wireline Competition Bureau 

Long-Term Actions 

347. Local Telephone Networks That 

LECS Must Make Available to 

Competitors 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 251 

Abstract: The Commission adopted 

rules applicable to incumbent local 

exchange carriers (LECs) to permit 

competitive carriers to access portions 

of the incumbent LECs’ networks on an 

unbundled basis. Unbundling allows 

competitors to lease portions of the 

incumbent LECs’ network to provide 

telecommunications services. These 

rules, adopted in dockets CC 96–98, WC 

01–338, and WC 04–313, are intended to 

accelerate the development of local 

exchange competition. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

Second FNPRM .. 04/26/99 64 FR 20238 

Fourth FNPRM .... 01/14/00 65 FR 2367 

Errata Third R&O 

and Fourth 

FNPRM.

01/18/00 65 FR 2542 

Second Errata 

Third R&O and 

Fourth FNPRM.

01/18/00 65 FR 2542 

Supplemental 

Order.

01/18/00 65 FR 2542 

Third R&O ........... 01/18/00 65 FR 2542 

Correction ............ 04/11/00 65 FR 19334 

Supplemental 

Order Clarification.

06/20/00 65 FR 38214 

Public Notice ....... 02/01/01 66 FR 8555 

Public Notice ....... 03/05/01 66 FR 18279 

Public Notice ....... 04/10/01 

Public Notice ....... 04/23/01 

Public Notice ....... 05/14/01 

NPRM .................. 01/15/02 67 FR 1947 

Public Notice ....... 05/29/02 

Public Notice ....... 08/01/02 

Public Notice ....... 08/13/02 

NPRM .................. 08/21/03 68 FR 52276 

R&O and Order 

on Remand.

08/21/03 68 FR 52276 

Errata .................. 09/17/03 

Report ................. 10/09/03 68 FR 60391 

Order ................... 10/28/03 

Order ................... 01/09/04 

Public Notice ....... 01/09/04 

Public Notice ....... 02/18/04 

Order ................... 07/08/04 

Second R&O ....... 07/08/04 69 FR 43762 

Order on Recon .. 08/09/04 69 FR 54589 

Interim Order ....... 08/20/04 69 FR 55111 

NPRM .................. 08/20/04 69 FR 55128 

Public Notice ....... 09/10/04 

Public Notice ....... 09/13/04 

Public Notice ....... 10/20/04 

Order on Recon .. 12/29/04 69 FR 77950 

Order on Remand 02/04/04 

Public Notice ....... 04/25/05 70 FR 29313 

Public Notice ....... 05/25/05 70 FR 34765 

Declaratory Ruling 05/26/11 

NPRM .................. 01/06/20 85 FR 472 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/06/20 

Report & Order ... 01/08/21 86 FR 1636 

Next Action Undetermined.To Be Determined 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Edward Krachmer, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

1525 Email: edward.krachmer@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AH44 


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348. Numbering Resource Optimization 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 201 et seq.; 47 

U.S.C. 251(e) 

Abstract: To slow the rate of 

numbering exhaust in the U.S. and 

prolong the life of the North American 

Numbering Plan, this proceeding 

considers and implements a number of 

strategies to ensure that telephone 

numbers are used efficiently, and that 

all carriers have the numbering 

resources they need to compete in the 

rapidly expanding telecommunications 

marketplace. 

In 1999, the Commission released the 

Numbering Resource Optimization 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) 

in CC Docket 99–200. The Notice 

examined and sought comment on 

several administrative and technical 

measures aimed at improving the 

efficiency with which 

telecommunications numbering 

resources are used and allocated. It 

incorporated input from the North 

American Numbering Council (NANC), 

a Federal advisory committee, which 

advises the Commission on issues 

related to number administration. 

In the Numbering Resource 

Optimization First Report and Order 

and Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (NRO First Report and 

Order), released on March 31, 2000, the 

Commission adopted a mandatory 

utilization data reporting requirement, a 

uniform set of categories of numbers for 

which carriers must report their 

utilization, and a utilization threshold 

framework to increase carrier 

accountability and incentives to use 

numbers efficiently. In addition, the 

Commission adopted a single system for 

allocating numbers in blocks of 1,000, 

rather than 10,000, wherever possible, 

and established a plan for national 

rollout of thousands-block number 

pooling. The Commission also adopted 

numbering resource reclamation 

requirements to ensure that unused 

numbers are returned to the North 

American Numbering Plan (NANP) 

inventory for assignment to other 

carriers. Also, to encourage better 

management of numbering resources, 

carriers are required, to the extent 

possible, to first assign numbering 

resources within thousands blocks (a 

form of sequential numbering). 

In the NRO Second Report and Order, 

the Commission adopted a measure that 

requires all carriers to use at least 60 

percent of their numbering resources 

before they may get additional numbers 

in a particular area. That 60 percent 

utilization threshold increases to 75 

percent over the next three years. The 

Commission also established a 5-year 

term for the national pooling 

administrator and an auditing program 

to verify carrier compliance with the 

Commission’s rules. Furthermore, the 

Commission declined to amend the 

existing Federal rules for area code 

relief or specify any new Federal 

guidelines for the implementation of 

area code relief. The Commission also 

declined to state a preference for either 

all-services overlays or geographic splits 

as a method of area code relief. 

Regarding mandatory nationwide 10- 

digit dialing, the Commission declined 

to adopt this measure at the present 

time. Furthermore, the Commission 

declined to mandate nationwide 

expansion of the ‘‘D digit’’ (the ‘‘N’’ of 

an NXX or central office code) to 

include zero or one, or to grant State 

commissions the authority to implement 

the expansion of the ‘‘D’’ digit as a 

numbering resource optimization 

measure presently. 

In the NRO Third Report and Order, 

the Commission addressed national 

thousands-block number pooling 

administration issues, including 

declining to alter the implementation 

date for covered CMRS carriers to 

participate in pooling. The Commission 

also addressed Federal cost recovery for 

national thousands-block number 

pooling, and continued to require States 

to establish cost recovery mechanisms 

for costs incurred by carriers 

participating in pooling trials. The 

Commission reaffirmed the Months-ToExhaust (MTE) requirement for carriers. 

The Commission declined to lower the 

utilization threshold established in the 

Second Report and Order, and declined 

to exempt pooling carriers from the 

utilization threshold. The Commission 

also established a safety valve 

mechanism to allow carriers that do not 

meet the utilization threshold in a given 

rate center to obtain additional 

numbering resources. In the NRO Third 

Report and Order, the Commission 

lifted the ban on technology-specific 

overlays (TSOs) and delegated authority 

to the Common Carrier Bureau, in 

consultation with the Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureau, to resolve 

any such petitions. Furthermore, the 

Commission found that carriers who 

violate its numbering requirements, or 

fail to cooperate with an auditor 

conducting either a ‘‘for cause’’ or 

random audit, should be denied 

numbering resources in certain 

instances. The Commission also 

reaffirmed the 180-day reservation 

period, declined to impose fees to 

extend the reservation period, and 

found that State commissions should be 

allowed password-protected access to 

the NANP Administrator database for 

data pertaining to NPAs located within 

their State. The measures adopted in the 

NRO orders will allow the Commission 

to monitor more closely the way 

numbering resources are used within 

the NANP, and will promote more 

efficient allocation and use of NANP 

resources by tying a carrier’s ability to 

obtain numbering resources more 

closely to its actual need for numbers to 

serve its customers. 

In NRO Third Order on Recon in CC 

Docket No. 99–200, Third Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in CC 

Docket No. 99–200, and Second Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in CC 

Docket No, 95–116, the Commission 

reversed its clarification that those 

requirements extend to all carriers in 

the largest 100 MSAs, regardless of 

whether they have received a request 

from another carrier to provide LNP. 

The Commission also sought comment 

on whether the Commission should 

again extend the LNP requirements to 

all carriers in the largest 100 MSAs, 

regardless of whether they receive a 

request to provide LNP. The 

Commission also sought comment on 

whether all carriers in the top 100 MSAs 

should be required to participate in 

thousands-block number pooling, 

regardless of whether they are required 

to be LNP capable. In addition, the 

Commission sought comment on 

whether all MSAs included in 

Combined Metropolitan Statistical 

Areas (CMSAs) on the Census Bureau’s 

list of the largest 100 MSAs should be 

included on the Commission’s list of the 

top 100 MSAs. 

In the NRO Fourth Report and Order 

and Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking, the Commission reaffirmed 

that carriers must deploy LNP in 

switches within the 100 largest 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) 

for which another carrier has made a 

specific request for the provision of 

LNP. The Commission delegated the 

authority to State commissions to 

require carriers operating within the 

largest 100 MSAs that have not received 

a specific request for LNP from another 

carrier to provide LNP, under certain 

circumstances and on a case-by-case 

basis. The Commission concluded that 

all carriers, except those specifically 

exempted, are required to participate in 

thousands-block number pooling in 

accordance with the national rollout 

schedule, regardless of whether they are 

required to provide LNP, including 

commercial mobile radio service 

(CMRS) providers that were required to 

deploy LNP as of November 24, 2003. 

The Commission specifically exempted 


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from the pooling requirement rural 

telephone companies and Tier III CMRS 

providers that have not received a 

request to provide LNP. The 

Commission also exempted from the 

pooling requirement carriers that are the 

only service provider receiving 

numbering resources in a given rate 

center. Additionally, the Commission 

sought further comment on whether 

these exemptions should be expanded 

to include carriers where there are only 

two service providers receiving 

numbering resources in the rate center. 

Finally, the Commission reaffirmed that 

the 100 largest MSAs are identified in 

the 1990 U.S. Census reports, as well as 

those areas included on any subsequent 

U.S. Census report of the 100 largest 

MSAs. 

In the NRO Order and Fifth Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the 

Commission granted petitions for 

delegated authority to implement 

mandatory thousands-block pooling 

filed by the Public Service Commission 

of West Virginia, the Nebraska Public 

Service Commission, the Oklahoma 

Corporation Commission, the Michigan 

Public Service Commission, and the 

Missouri Public Service Commission. In 

granting these petitions, the 

Commission permitted these States to 

optimize numbering resources and 

further extend the life of the specific 

numbering plan areas. In the Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the 

Commission sought comment on 

whether it should delegate authority to 

all States to implement mandatory 

thousands-block number pooling 

consistent with the parameters set forth 

in the NRO Order. 

In its 2013 Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking, the Commission proposed 

to allow interconnected Voice over 

internet Protocol (VOIP) providers to 

obtain telephone numbers directly from 

the North American Numbering Plan 

Administrator and the Pooling 

Administrator, subject to certain 

requirements. The Commission also 

sought comment on a forward-looking 

approach to numbers for other types of 

providers and uses, including telematics 

and public safety, and the benefits and 

number exhaust risks of granting 

providers other than interconnected 

VoIP providers direct access. 

In its 2015 Report and Order, the 

Commission established an 

authorization process to enable 

interconnected VoIP providers that 

choose to obtain access to North 

American Numbering Plan telephone 

numbers directly from the North 

American Numbering Plan 

Administrator and/or the Pooling 

Administrator (Numbering 

Administrators), rather than through 

intermediaries. The Order also set forth 

several conditions designed to minimize 

number exhaust and preserve the 

integrity of the numbering system. 

Specifically, the Commission required 

interconnected VoIP providers obtaining 

numbers to comply with the same 

requirements applicable to carriers 

seeking to obtain numbers. The 

requirements included any State 

requirements pursuant to numbering 

authority delegated to the States by the 

Commission, as well as industry 

guidelines and practices, among others. 

The Commission also required 

interconnected VoIP providers to 

comply with facilities readiness 

requirements adapted to this context, 

and with numbering utilization and 

optimization requirements. In addition, 

as conditions to requesting and 

obtaining numbers directly from the 

Numbering Administrators, the 

Commission required interconnected 

VoIP providers to (1) provide the 

relevant State commissions with 

regulatory and numbering contacts 

when requesting numbers in those 

States, (2) request numbers from the 

Numbering Administrators under their 

own unique OCN, (3) file any requests 

for numbers with the relevant State 

commissions at least 30 days prior to 

requesting numbers from the Numbering 

Administrators, and (4) provide 

customers with the opportunity to 

access all abbreviated dialing codes 

(N11 numbers) in use in a geographic 

area. Finally, the Order also modified 

Commission’s rules in order to permit 

VoIP Positioning Center providers to 

obtain pseudo-Automatic Number 

Identification codes directly from the 

Numbering Administrators for purposes 

of providing E911 services. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 06/17/99 64 FR 32471 

R&O and FNPRM 06/16/00 65 FR 37703 

Second R&O and 

Second FNPRM.

02/08/01 66 FR 9528 

Third R&O and 

Second Order 

on Recon.

02/12/02 67 FR 643 

Third R&O on 

Recon and 

Third FNPRM.

04/05/02 67 FR 16347 

Fourth R&O and 

Fourth NPRM.

07/21/03 68 FR 43003 

Order and Fifth 

FNPRM.

03/15/06 71 FR 13393 

Order ................... 06/19/13 78 FR 36679 

NPRM & NOI ...... 06/19/13 78 FR 36725 

R&O .................... 10/29/15 80 FR 66454 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Jordan Marie Reth, 

Attorney-Advisor (PU), Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202– 

418–1418, Email: jordan.reth@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AH80 

349. Jurisdictional Separations 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j); 47 U.S.C. 205; 

47 U.S.C. 221(c); 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 

U.S.C. 403; 47 U.S.C. 410 

Abstract: Jurisdictional separations is 

the process, pursuant to part 36 of the 

Commission’s rules, by which 

incumbent local exchange carriers 

apportion regulated costs between the 

intrastate and interstate jurisdictions. In 

1997, the Commission initiated a 

proceeding seeking comment on the 

extent to which legislative changes, 

technological changes, and marketplace 

changes warrant comprehensive reform 

of the separations process. In 2001, the 

Commission adopted the Federal-State 

Joint Board on Jurisdictional 

Separations’ Joint Board’s 

recommendation to impose an interim 

freeze on the part 36 category 

relationships and jurisdictional cost 

allocation factors for a period of 5 years, 

pending comprehensive reform of the 

part 36 separations rules. In 2006, the 

Commission issued an Order and 

Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

that extended the separations freeze for 

a period of 3 years and sought comment 

on comprehensive reform. In 2009, the 

Commission issued a Report and Order 

extending the separations freeze an 

additional year to June 2010. In 2010, 

the Commission issued a Report and 

Order extending the separations freeze 

for an additional year to June 2011. In 

2011, the Commission adopted a Report 

and Order extending the separations 

freeze for an additional year to June 

2012. In 2012, the Commission issued a 

Report and Order extending the 

separations freeze for an additional 2 

years to June 2014. In 2014, the 

Commission issued a Report and Order 

extending the separations freeze for an 

additional 3 years to June 2017. 

In 2016, the Commission issued a 

Report and Order extending the 

separations freeze for an additional 18 

months until January 1, 2018. In 2017, 

the Joint Board issued a Recommended 

Decision recommending changes to the 

part 36 rules designed to harmonize 

them with the Commission’s previous 

amendments to its part 32 accounting 

rules. In February 2018, the Commission 

issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

proposing amendments to part 36 


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consistent with the Joint Board’s 

recommendations. In October 2018, the 

Commission issued a Report and Order 

adopting each of the Joint Board’s 

recommendations and amending the 

Part 36 consistent with those 

recommendations. In July 2018, the 

Commission issued a Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking proposing to 

extend the separations freeze for an 

additional 15 years and to provide rateof-return carriers that had elected to 

freeze their category relationships a time 

limited opportunity to opt out of that 

freeze. In December 2018, the 

Commission issued a Report and Order 

extending the freeze for up to 6 years 

until December 31, 2024, and granting 

rate-of-return carriers that had elected to 

freeze their category relationships a onetime opportunity to opt out of that 

freeze. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 11/05/97 62 FR 59842 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/10/97 

Order ................... 06/21/01 66 FR 33202 

Order and 

FNPRM.

05/26/06 71 FR 29882 

Order and 

FNPRM Comment Period 

End.

08/22/06 

R&O .................... 05/15/09 74 FR 23955 

R&O .................... 05/25/10 75 FR 30301 

R&O .................... 05/27/11 76 FR 30840 

R&O .................... 05/23/12 77 FR 30410 

R&O .................... 06/13/14 79 FR 36232 

R&O .................... 06/02/17 82 FR 25535 

Recommended 

Decision.

10/27/17 

NPRM .................. 03/13/18 83 FR 10817 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

04/27/18 

NPRM .................. 07/27/18 83 FR 35589 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/10/18 

R&O .................... 12/11/18 83 FR 63581 

R&O .................... 02/15/19 84 FR 4351 

Announcement of 

OMB Approval.

03/01/19 84 FR 6977 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: William A. Kehoe III, 

Senior Counsel, Policy & Program 

Planning Division, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

1580, Email: william.kehoe@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ06 

350. Rural Call Completion; WC Docket 

No. 13–39 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154; 47 

U.S.C. 217; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 202; 

47 U.S.C. 218; 47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 

262; 47 U.S.C. 403(b)(2)(B); 47 U.S.C. 

251(a); 47 U.S.C. 225; 47 U.S.C. 620; 47 

U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 251(e); 47 U.S.C. 

254(k); 47 U.S.C. 616; 47 U.S.C. 226; 47 

U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 228; 47 U.S.C. 

1401–1473 

Abstract: The Third RCC Order began 

implementation of the Improving Rural 

Call Quality and Reliability Act of 2017 

(RCC Act), by adopting rules designed to 

ensure the integrity of our nation’s 

telephone network and prevent unjust 

or unreasonable discrimination among 

areas of the United States in the delivery 

of telephone service. In particular, the 

Third RCC Order adopted rules to 

establish a registry for intermediate 

providers entities that transmit, but do 

not originate or terminate, voice calls. 

The Order requires intermediate 

providers to register with the 

Commission before offering to transmit 

covered voice communications, and 

requires covered providers entities that 

select the initial long-distance route for 

a large number of lines to use only 

registered intermediate providers to 

transmit covered voice communications. 

The Fourth RCC Order completed the 

Commission’s implementation of the 

RCC Act by adopting service quality 

standards for intermediate providers, as 

well as an exception to those standards 

for intermediate providers that qualify 

for the covered provider safe harbor in 

our existing rules. The Order also set 

forth procedures to enforce our 

intermediate provider requirements. 

Finally, the Fourth RCC Order adopted 

provisions to sunset the rural call 

completion data recording and retention 

requirements adopted in the First RCC 

Order one year after the effective date of 

the new intermediate provider service 

quality standards. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/12/13 78 FR 21891 

Public Notice ....... 05/07/13 78 FR 26572 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/28/13 

R&O and FNPRM 12/17/13 78 FR 76218 

PRA 60 Day Notice.12/30/13 78 FR 79448 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/18/14 

PRA Comments 

Due.

03/11/14 

Public Notice ....... 05/06/14 79 FR 25682 

Order on Reconsideration.12/10/14 79 FR 73227 

Erratum ............... 01/08/15 80 FR 1007 

Public Notice ....... 03/04/15 80 FR 11593 

2nd FNPRM ........ 07/27/17 82 FR 34911 

2nd FNPRM 

Comment Period End.

08/28/17 

Action Date FR Cite 

Reply Comment 

Period End.

09/25/17 

2nd Order ............ 04/17/18 83 FR 21723 

3rd FNPRM ......... 04/17/18 83 FR 21983 

3rd FNPRM Comment Period 

End.

06/04/18 

3rd FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

06/19/18 

3rd Order ............. 08/13/18 83 FR 47296 

4th Order ............. 03/15/19 84 FR 25692 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Zachary Ross, 

Attorney Advisor, Competiton Policy 

Division, WCB, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

1033, Email: zachary.ross@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ89 

351. Comprehensive Review of the Part 

32 Uniform System of Accounts (WC 

Docket No. 14–130) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C. 

219 and 220 

Abstract: The Commission initiates a 

rulemaking proceeding to review the 

Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) to 

consider ways to minimize the 

compliance burdens on incumbent local 

exchange carriers while ensuring that 

the Agency retains access to the 

information it needs to fulfill its 

regulatory duties. In light of the 

Commission’s actions in areas of price 

cap regulation, universal service reform, 

and intercarrier compensation reform, 

the Commission stated that it is likely 

appropriate to streamline the existing 

rules even though those reforms may 

not have eliminated the need for 

accounting data for some purposes. The 

Commission’s analysis and proposals 

are divided into three parts. First, the 

Commission proposes to streamline the 

USOA accounting rules while 

preserving their existing structure. 

Second, the Commission seeks more 

focused comment on the accounting 

requirements needed for price cap 

carriers to address our statutory and 

regulatory obligations. Third, the 

Commission seeks comment on several 

related issues, including state 

requirements, rate effects, 

implementation, continuing property 

records, and legal authority. 

On February 23, 2017, the 

Commission adopted a Report and 

Order that revised the part 32 USOA to 

substantially reduce accounting burdens 


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for both price cap and rate-of-return 

carriers. First, the Order streamlines the 

USOA for all carriers. In addition, the 

USOA will be aligned more closely with 

generally accepted accounting 

principles, or GAAP. Second, the Order 

allows price cap carriers to use GAAP 

for all regulatory accounting purposes as 

long as they comply with targeted 

accounting rules, which are designed to 

mitigate any impact on pole attachment 

rates. Alternatively, price cap carriers 

can elect to use GAAP accounting for all 

purposes other than those associated 

with pole attachment rates and continue 

to use the part 32 accounts for pole 

attachment rates for up to 12 years. 

Third, the Order addresses several 

miscellaneous issues, including referral 

to the Federal-State Joint Board on 

Separations the issue of examining 

jurisdictional separations rules in light 

of the reforms adopted to part 32. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 09/15/14 79 FR 54942 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/14/14 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

12/15/14 

R&O .................... 04/04/17 82 FR 20833 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Robin Cohn, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

2747, Email: robin.cohn@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK20 

352. Restoring Internet Freedom (WC 

Docket No. 17–108); Protecting and 

Promoting the Open Internet (GN 

Docket No. 14–28) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C. 201(b) 

Abstract: In December 2017, the 

Commission adopted the Restoring 

Internet Freedom Declaratory Ruling, 

Report and Order, and Order (Restoring 

Internet Freedom Order), which restored 

the light-touch regulatory framework 

under which the Internet had grown and 

thrived for decades by classifying 

broadband internet access service as an 

information service. The Restoring 

Internet Freedom Order ends title II 

regulation of the internet and returns 

broadband internet access service to its 

long-standing classification as an 

information service; reinstates the 

determination that mobile broadband 

internet access service is not a 

commercial mobile service and returns 

it to its original classification as a 

private mobile service; finds that 

transparency, Internet Service Providers 

(ISPs) economic incentives, and 

antitrust and consumer protection laws 

will protect the openness of the internet, 

and that title II regulation is 

unnecessary to do so; and adopts a 

transparency rule similar to that in the 

2010 Open Internet Order, requiring 

disclosure of network management 

practices, performance characteristics, 

and commercial terms of service. 

Additionally, the transparency rule 

requires ISPs to disclose any blocking, 

throttling, paid prioritization, or affiliate 

prioritization, and eliminates the 

internet conduct standard and the 

bright-line conduct rules set forth in the 

2015 title II Order. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 07/01/14 79 FR 37448 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/18/14 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

09/15/14 

R&O on Remand, 

Declaratory Ruling, and Order.

04/13/15 80 FR 19737 

NPRM .................. 06/02/17 82 FR 25568 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

07/03/17 

Declaratory Ruling, R&O, and 

Order.

02/22/18 83 FR 7852 

Order on Remand 01/07/21 86 FR 994 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Melissa Kirkel, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

7958, Fax: 202 418–1413, Email: 

melissa.kirkel@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK21 

353. Technology Transitions; GN 

Docket No. 13–5, WC Docket No. 05–25; 

Accelerating Wireline Broadband 

Deployment by Removing Barriers to 

Infrastructure Investment; WC Docket 

No. 17–84 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 

U.S.C. 251 

Abstract: On April 20, 2017, the 

Commission adopted a Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking, Notice of 

Inquiry, and Request for Comment 

(Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, NOI, 

and RFC) seeking input on a number of 

actions designed to accelerate: (1) The 

deployment of next-generation networks 

and services by removing barriers to 

infrastructure investment at the Federal, 

State, and local level; (2) the transition 

from legacy copper networks and 

services to next-generation fiber-based 

networks and services; and (3) the 

reduction of Commission regulations 

that raise costs and slow, rather than 

facilitate, broadband deployment. 

On November 16, 2017, the 

Commission adopted a Report and 

Order (R&O), Declaratory Ruling, and 

Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(Wireline Infrastructure Order) that 

takes a number of actions and seeks 

comment on further actions designed to 

accelerate the deployment of nextgeneration networks and services 

through removing barriers to 

infrastructure investment. 

The Wireline Infrastructure Order 

took a number of actions. First, the 

Report and Order revised the pole 

attachment rules to reduce costs for 

attachers, reforms the pole access 

complaint procedures to settle access 

disputes more swiftly, and increases 

access to infrastructure for certain types 

of broadband providers. Second, the 

Report and Order revised the section 

214(a) discontinuance rules and the 

network change notification rules, 

including those applicable to copper 

retirements, to expedite the process for 

carriers seeking to replace legacy 

network infrastructure and legacy 

services with advanced broadband 

networks and innovative new services. 

Third, the Report and Order reversed a 

2015 ruling that discontinuance 

authority is required for solely 

wholesale services to carrier-customers. 

Fourth, the Declaratory Ruling 

abandoned the 2014 ‘‘functional test’’ 

interpretation of when section 214 

discontinuance applications are 

required, bringing added clarity to the 

section 214(a) discontinuance process 

for carriers and consumers alike. 

Finally, the Further Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking sought comment on 

additional potential pole attachment 

reforms, reforms to the network change 

disclosure and section 214(a) 

discontinuance processes, and ways to 

facilitate rebuilding networks impacted 

by natural disasters. Various parties 

filed a Petition for Review of the 

Wireline Infrastructure Order in the U.S. 

Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

The Ninth Circuit denied the Petition on 

January 23, 2020 on the grounds that the 

parties lacked standing. 

On June 7, 2018, the Commission 

adopted a Second Report and Order 

(Wireline Infrastructure Second Report 

and Order) taking further actions 

designed to expedite the transition from 

legacy networks and services to next 


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generation networks and advanced 

services that benefit the American 

public and to promote broadband 

deployment by further streamlining the 

section 214(a) discontinuance rules, 

network change disclosure processes, 

and part 68 customer notification 

process. 

The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, 

NOI, and RFC sought comment on 

additional issues not addressed in the 

November Wireline Infrastructure Order 

or the June Wireline Infrastructure 

Second Report and Order. It sought 

comment on changes to the 

Commission’s pole attachment rules to: 

(1) Streamline the timeframe for gaining 

access to utility poles; (2) reduce 

charges paid by attachers for work done 

to make a pole ready for new 

attachments; and (3) establish a formula 

for computing the maximum pole 

attachment rate that may be imposed on 

an incumbent LEC. 

The Wireline Infrastructure NPRM, 

NOI, and RFC also sought comment on 

whether the Commission should enact 

rules, consistent with its authority 

under section 253 of the Act, to promote 

the deployment of broadband 

infrastructure by preempting State and 

local laws that inhibit broadband 

deployment. It also sought comment on 

whether there are State laws governing 

the maintenance or retirement of copper 

facilities that serve as a barrier to 

deploying next-generation technologies 

and services that the Commission might 

seek to preempt. 

Previously, in November 2014, the 

Commission adopted a Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory 

Ruling that: (1) Proposed new backup 

power rules; (2) proposed new or 

revised rules for copper retirements and 

service discontinuances; and (3) 

adopted a functional test in determining 

what constitutes a service for purposes 

of section 214(a) discontinuance review. 

In August 2015, the Commission 

adopted a Report and Order, Order on 

Reconsideration, and Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking that: (i) 

Lengthened and revised the copper 

retirement process; (ii) determined that 

a carrier must obtain Commission 

approval before discontinuing a service 

used as a wholesale input if the carrier’s 

actions will discontinue service to a 

carrier-customer’s retail end users; (iii) 

adopted an interim rule requiring 

incumbent LECs that seek to 

discontinue certain TDM-based 

wholesale services to commit to certain 

rates, terms, and conditions; (iv) 

proposed further revisions to the copper 

retirement discontinuance process; and 

(v) upheld the November 2014 

Declaratory Ruling. In July 2016, the 

Commission adopted a Second Report 

and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and 

Order on Reconsideration that: (i) 

Adopted a new test for obtaining 

streamlined treatment when carriers 

seek Commission authorization to 

discontinue legacy services in favor of 

services based on newer technologies; 

(ii) set forth consumer education 

requirements for carriers seeking to 

discontinue legacy services in favor of 

services based on newer technologies; 

(iii) allowed notice to customers of 

discontinuance applications by email; 

(iv) required carriers to provide notice 

of discontinuance applications to Tribal 

entities; (v) made a technical rule 

change to create a new title for copper 

retirement notices and certifications; 

and (vi) harmonized the timeline for 

competitive LEC discontinuances 

caused by incumbent LEC network 

changes. 

On August 2, 2018, the Commission 

adopted a Third Report and Order and 

Declaratory Ruling (Wireline 

Infrastructure Third Report and Order) 

establishing a new framework for the 

vast majority of pole attachments 

governed by Federal law by instituting 

a one-touch make-ready regime, in 

which a new attacher may elect to 

perform all simple work to prepare a 

pole for new wireline attachments in the 

communications space. This new 

framework includes safeguards to 

promote coordination among parties 

and ensures that new attachers perform 

work safely and reliably. The 

Commission retained its multi-party 

pole attachment process for attachments 

that are complex or above the 

communications space of a pole, but 

made significant modifications to speed 

deployment, promote accurate billing, 

expand the use of self-help for new 

attachers when attachment deadlines 

are missed, and reduce the likelihood of 

coordination failures that lead to 

unwarranted delays. The Commission 

also improved its pole attachment rules 

by codifying and redefining 

Commission precedent that requires 

utilities to allow attachers to overlash 

existing wires, thus maximizing the 

usable space on the pole; eliminating 

outdated disparities between the pole 

attachment rates that incumbent carriers 

must pay compared to other similarlysituated cable and telecommunications 

attachers; and clarifying that the 

Commission will preempt, on an 

expedited case-by-case basis, State and 

local laws that inhibit the rebuilding or 

restoration of broadband infrastructure 

after a disaster. The Commission also 

adopted a Declaratory Ruling that 

interpreted section 253(a) of the 

Communications Act to prohibit State 

and local express and de facto moratoria 

on the deployment of 

telecommunications services or 

facilities and directed the Wireline 

Competition and Wireless 

Telecommunications Bureaus to act 

promptly on petitions challenging 

specific alleged moratoria. Numerous 

parties filed appeals of the Wireline 

Infrastructure Third Report and Order, 

and the appeals were consolidated in 

the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Ninth 

Circuit. On August 12, 2020, the Ninth 

Circuit issued an opinion upholding the 

Wireline Infrastructure Third Report 

and Order in all respects. 

On August 8, 2018, Public Knowledge 

filed a Petition for Reconsideration of 

the Second Report and Order and 

Motion to Hold in Abeyance. On 

October 20, 2020, the Wireline 

Competition Bureau (Bureau) adopted a 

Declaratory Ruling, Order on 

Reconsideration, and Order. In the 

Declaratory Ruling, the Bureau clarified 

that any carrier seeking to discontinue 

legacy voice service to a community or 

part of a community that is the last 

retail provider of such legacy TDM 

service to that community or part of the 

community is subject to the 

Commission’s technology transition 

discontinuance rules, including the 

requirements to receive streamlined 

treatment of its discontinuance 

application. In the Order on 

Reconsideration, the Bureau denied the 

Public Knowledge Petition for 

Reconsideration because all of Public 

Knowledge’s arguments were fully 

considered, and rejected, by the 

Commission in the underlying 

proceeding. It also dismissed as moot 

the accompanying motion to have the 

Commission hold that Order in 

abeyance pending the outcome of the 

appeal that the Ninth Circuit ultimately 

denied. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/06/15 80 FR 450 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/05/15 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

03/09/15 

FNPRM ............... 09/25/15 80 FR 57768 

R&O .................... 09/25/15 80 FR 57768 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

10/26/15 

FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

11/24/15 

2nd R&O ............. 09/12/16 81 FR 62632 

NPRM .................. 05/16/17 82 FR 

224533 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

06/15/17 


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41354 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

07/17/17 

R&O .................... 12/28/17 82 FR 61520 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

01/17/18 

FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

02/16/18 

2nd R&O ............. 07/09/18 83 FR 31659 

3rd R&O .............. 09/14/18 83 FR 46812 

Order on Reconsideration.02/02/21 86 FR 8872 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, 

Special Counsel, Competition Policy 

Div., WCB, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–1477, Email: 

michele.berlove@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK32 

354. Implementation of the Universal 

Service Portions of the 1996 

Telecommunications Act 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq. 

Abstract: The Telecommunications 

Act of 1996 expanded the traditional 

goal of universal service to include 

increased access to both 

telecommunications and advanced 

services such as high-speed internet for 

all consumers at just, reasonable and 

affordable rates. The Act established 

principles for universal service that 

specifically focused on increasing 

access to evolving services for 

consumers living in rural and insular 

areas, and for consumers with lowincomes. Additional principles called 

for increased access to high-speed 

internet in the nation’s schools, 

libraries, and rural healthcare facilities. 

The FCC established four programs 

within the Universal Service Fund to 

implement the statute: Connect America 

Fund (formally known as High-Cost 

Support) for rural areas; Lifeline (for 

low-income consumers), including 

initiatives to expand phone service for 

Native Americans; Schools and 

Libraries (E-rate); and Rural Healthcare. 

The Universal Service Fund is paid 

for by contributions from 

telecommunications carriers, including 

wireline and wireless companies, and 

interconnected Voice over Internet 

Protocol (VoIP) providers, including 

cable companies that provide voice 

service, based on an assessment on their 

interstate and international end-user 

revenues. The Universal Service 

Administrative Company, or USAC, 

administers the four programs and 

collects monies for the Universal 

Service Fund under the direction of the 

FCC. 

On February 7, 2020, the Commission 

launched $20 Billion Rural Digital 

Opportunity Fund. 

On April 2, 2020, the Commission 

fought COVID–19 with $200M; Adopts 

Long-Term Connected Care Study. 

On July 17, 2020, the Commission 

integrated provisions of the recently 

enacted Secure and Trusted 

Communications Networks Acts of 2019 

into the existing supply chain 

rulemaking. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

R&O and FNPRM 01/13/17 82 FR 4275 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

02/13/17 

NPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

02/27/17 

R&O and Order 

on Recon.

03/21/17 82 FR 14466 

Order on Recon .. 05/19/17 82 FR 22901 

Order on Recon .. 06/08/17 82 FR 26653 

Memorandum, 

Opinion & 

Order.

06/21/17 82 FR 

228224 

NPRM .................. 07/30/19 84 FR 36865 

NPRM .................. 08/21/19 84 FR 43543 

R&O and Order 

on Recon.

11/07/19 84 FR 59937 

Order on Recon .. 12/09/19 84 FR 67220 

R&O .................... 12/20/19 84 FR 70026 

R&O .................... 12/27/19 84 FR 71308 

R&O .................... 01/17/20 85 FR 3044 

Report & Order ... 03/10/20 85 FR 13773 

Report & Order ... 05/11/20 85 FR 19892 

Declaratory Ruling/2nd FNPRM.08/04/20 85 FR 48134 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Nakesha Woodward, 

Program Analyst, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–1502, Email: 

kesha.woodward@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK57 

355. Toll Free Assignment 

Modernization and Toll Free Service 

Access Codes: WC Docket No. 17–192, 

CC Docket No. 95–155 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 201(b); 47 U.S.C. 

251(e)(1) 

Abstract: In this Report and Order 

(Order), the Federal Communications 

Commission (FCC) initiates an auction 

to distribute certain toll free numbers. 

The numbers to be auctioned will be in 

the new 833 toll free code for which 

there have been multiple, competing 

requests. 

By using an auction, the FCC will 

ensure that sought-after numbers are 

awarded to the parties that value them 

most. In addition, the FCC will reserve 

certain 833 numbers for distribution to 

government and non-profit entities that 

request them for public health and 

safety purposes. The FCC will study the 

results of the auction to determine how 

to best use the mechanism to distribute 

toll-free numbers equitably and 

efficiently in the future as well. 

Revenues from the auction will be used 

to defray the cost of toll-free numbering 

administration, reducing the cost of 

numbering for all users. The Order 

establishing the toll-free number auction 

will also authorize and accommodate 

the use of a secondary market for 

numbers awarded at auction to further 

distribute these numbers to the entities 

that value them most. The Order also 

adopted several definitional and 

technical updates to improve clarity and 

flexibility in toll-free number 

assignment. 

The Commission sought comment and 

then adopted auctions procedures and 

deadlines on August 2, 2019. Bidding 

for the auction occurred on December 

17, 2019, and Somos issued an 

announcement of the winning bidders 

on December 20, 2019. On December 16, 

2019, to facilitate the preparation of its 

study of the auction, the Bureau charged 

the North American Numbering 

Council, via its Toll Free Access 

Modernization Working Group, to issue 

a report evaluating various aspects of 

the 833 Auction, and recommending 

improvements for any future toll free 

number auctions. 

On January 16, 2020, Somos released 

all of the 833 Auction data for public 

review. On March 13, 2020, the Bureau 

invited public comment on the 833 

Auction in preparation for issuing a 

report on the lessons learned from the 

Auction. Comments were due on April 

13, 2020. On July 14, 2020, the North 

American Numbering Council approved 

the Toll Free Assignment Modernization 

Working Group’s report, Perspectives on 

the December 2019 Auction of Numbers 

in the 833 Numbering Plan Area. 

On January 15, 2021, the Bureau 

released a report that examined various 

aspects of this toll free number 

assignment experiment, including 

lessons learned, examination of auction 

outcomes, and recommendations for 

future toll free number assignment. The 

Bureau concluded that the 833 Auction 

was a successful experiment that 

provided invaluable experience and 

data that can facilitate further 

Commission efforts to continue to 


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modernize toll free number allocation in 

the future. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 10/13/17 82 FR 47669 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/13/17 

Final Rule ............ 10/23/18 83 FR 53377 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Matthew Collins, 

Attorney Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

7141, Email: matthew.collins@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK91 

356. Establishing the Digital 

Opportunity Data Collection; WC 

Docket Nos. 19–195 and 11–10 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 35 to 39; 47 

U.S.C. 154; 47 U.S.C. 211; 47 U.S.C. 219; 

47 U.S.C. 220; 47 U.S.C. 402(b)2(B); 

Pub. L. 104–104; 47. U.S.C. 151–154; 47 

U.S.C. 157; 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 U.S.C. 254; 

47 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 303; 47 U.S.C. 

309; 47 U.S.C. 319; 47 U.S.C. 332; 47 

U.S.C. 641 to 646; Pub. L 116–130; . . . 

Abstract: In the Report and Order, the 

Federal Communications Commission 

(FCC), moving to better identify gaps in 

broadband coverage across the nation, 

initiated a new process for collecting 

fixed broadband data to better pinpoint 

where broadband service is lacking. The 

Report and Order concluded that there 

is a compelling and immediate need to 

develop more granular broadband 

deployment data to meet this goal and, 

accordingly, created the new Digital 

Opportunity Data Collection. 

The Digital Opportunity Data 

Collection will collect geospatial 

broadband coverage maps from fixed 

broadband internet service providers of 

areas where they make fixed service 

available. This geospatial data will 

facilitate development of granular, highquality fixed broadband deployment 

maps, which should improve the FCC’s 

ability to target support for broadband 

expansion through the agency’s 

Universal Service Fund programs. The 

Report and Order also adopts a process 

to collect public input on the accuracy 

of service providers’ broadband maps, 

facilitated by a crowd-sourcing portal 

that will gather input from consumers as 

well as from state, local, and Tribal 

governments. 

The Second Further NPRM sought 

comment on additional technical 

standards for fixed broadband providers 

that could ensure greater precision for 

the Digital Opportunity Data Collection 

deployment reporting and on ways the 

Commission could incorporate 

crowdsourced and location-specific 

fixed broadband deployment data into 

this new data collection. The Second 

Further NPRM also sought comment on 

incorporating the collection of accurate, 

reliable mobile wireless voice and 

broadband coverage data into the Digital 

Opportunity Data Collection. In 

addition, the Second Further NPRM 

sought comment on sunsetting the Form 

477 broadband deployment collection 

following the creation of the Digital 

Opportunity Data Collection. 

The Second Report and Order 

established requirements for: (1) 

Collecting fixed broadband availability 

and quality of service data; (2) collecting 

mobile broadband deployment data, 

including the submission of 

standardized propagation maps, 

propagation model details, and 

infrastructure information; (3) 

establishing a common dataset of all 

locations in the United States where 

fixed broadband service can be 

installed; (4) verifying the accuracy of 

broadband availability data; (5) 

collecting crowdsourced data; (6) 

enforcing the requirements of the 

Broadband DATA Act; (7) creating 

coverage maps from the data submitted; 

and (8) ensuring the privacy, 

confidentiality, and security of 

information submitted by broadband 

providers. 

The Third Further NPRM sought 

comment on a range of additional 

measures to implement the 

requirements of the Broadband DATA 

Act, including additional processes for 

verifying broadband availability data 

submitted by providers, the 

development of a challenge process, and 

FCC Form 477 reforms. 

The Third Report and Order specified 

which fixed and mobile broadband 

internet access service providers are 

required to report broadband 

availability data and expanded the 

reporting and certification requirements 

for certain fixed and mobile broadband 

filers in order to ensure that 

Commission staff have the necessary 

tools to assess the quality and accuracy 

of its broadband coverage maps. The 

Third Report and Order also adopted 

standards for collecting verified 

broadband data from State, local, and 

Tribal entities and certain third parties 

and adopted processes for submitting 

challenges to fixed and mobile coverage 

map data and data in the location 

Fabric, along with processes for 

providers to respond to such challenges. 

In addition, the Third Report and Order 

established standards for identifying 

locations that will be included in the 

broadband serviceable locations Fabric 

and for enforcement of the requirements 

associated with the Digital Opportunity 

Data Collection. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 08/03/17 82 FR 40118 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

09/25/17 

Report & Order ... 08/01/19 84 FR 43705 

Second Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

08/01/19 84 FR 43764 

Second Further 

NPRM Comment Period 

End.

10/07/19 

2nd R&O ............. 07/16/20 85 FR 50886 

3rd FNPRM ......... 07/16/20 85 FR 50911 

3rd FNPRM Comment Period 

End.

09/08/20 

3rd R&O .............. 01/13/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michael Ray, 

Attorney, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–0357, Email: 

michael.ray@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AK93 

357. Call Authentication Trust Anchor 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 

U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 227; 47 U.S.C. 

227b; 47 U.S.C. 503 

Abstract: On June 6, 2019, the 

Commission adopted a Declaratory 

Ruling and Third Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking (CG Docket No. 

17–59, WC Docket No. 17–97) that 

proposed and sought comment on 

mandating implementation of STIR/ 

SHAKEN in the event that major voice 

service providers did not voluntarily 

implement the framework by the end of 

2019. 

On December 30, 2019, Congress 

enacted the Pallone-Thune Telephone 

Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement 

and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Along 

with numerous other provisions 

directed at addressing robocalls, the 

TRACED Act directs the Commission to 

require all voice service providers to 

implement STIR/SHAKEN in the 

internet Protocol (IP) portions of their 

networks, and to implement an effective 

caller ID authentication framework in 

the non-IP portions of their networks. 

The TRACED Act further creates 

processes by which voice service 

providers may be exempt from this 


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mandate if the Commission determines 

they have achieved certain 

implementation benchmarks, and by 

which voice service providers may be 

granted a delay in compliance based on 

a finding of undue hardship because of 

burdens or barriers to implementation 

or based on a delay in development of 

a caller ID authentication protocol for 

calls delivered over non-IP networks. 

On March 31, 2020, the Commission 

adopted a Report and Order and Further 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WC 

Docket Nos. 17–97, 20–67). The Report 

and Order mandated that all originating 

and terminating voice service providers 

implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID 

authentication framework in the IP 

portions of their networks by June 30, 

2021. In the Further Notice the 

Commission sought comment on 

proposals to further promote caller ID 

authentication and implement the 

TRACED Act. 

On September 29, 2020, the 

Commission adopted a Second Report 

and Order (WC Docket No. 17–97). The 

Second Report and Order implemented 

rules (1) granting extensions for 

compliance with the STIR/SHAKEN 

implementation mandate for small voice 

service providers, voice service 

providers that cannot obtain a SPC 

token from the Governance Authority, 

services scheduled for section 214 

discontinuance, for those portions of a 

voice service provider’s network that 

rely on non-IP technology, and 

establishing a process for individual 

voice service providers to seek provider 

specific extensions; (2) requiring voice 

service providers using non-IP 

technology either to upgrade their 

networks to IP to enable STIR/SHAKEN 

implementation, or work to develop 

non-IP caller ID authentication 

technology and implement a robocall 

mitigation program in the interim; (3) 

establishing a process whereby a voice 

service provider may be exempt from 

the STIR/SHAKEN implementation 

mandate if the provider has achieved 

certain implementation benchmarks; (4) 

prohibiting voice service providers from 

imposing line item charges on consumer 

and small business subscribers for caller 

ID authentication; and (5) requiring 

intermediate providers to implement 

STIR/SHAKEN. 

On January 13, 2021, the Commission 

adopted a Second Further Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking proposing and 

seeking comment on a limited role for 

the Commission to oversee certificate 

revocation decisions by the private 

STIR/SHAKEN Governance Authority 

that would have the effect of placing 

providers in noncompliance with the 

Commission’s rules. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NOI ...................... 07/14/17 

DR and 3rd 

FNPRM.

06/06/19 84 FR 29478 

NPRM .................. 06/24/19 84 FR 29478 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

08/23/19 

3rd FNPRM Comment Period 

End.

08/23/19 

R&O and FNPRM 03/31/20 85 FR 22029 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

05/29/20 

2nd R&O ............. 09/29/20 85 FR 73360 

2nd FNPRM ........ 01/13/21 86 FR 9894 

2nd FNPRM 

Comment Period.

03/19/21 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Alexander 

McMennamin Hobbs, Attorney-Advisor, 

Federal Communications Commission, 

45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–7433, Email: 

alexander.hobbs@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL00 

358. Implementation of the National 

Suicide Improvement Act of 2018 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 201; 47 

U.S.C. 251 

Abstract: On August 14, 2018, 

Congress passed the National Suicide 

Hotline Improvement Act (Act). Pub. L. 

115–233, 132 Stat. 2424 (2018). The 

purpose of the Act was to study and 

report on the feasibility of designating a 

3-digit dialing code to be used for a 

national suicide prevention and mental 

health crisis hotline system by 

considering each of the current N11 

designations. The Act directed the 

Commission to: (1) Conduct a study that 

examines the feasibility of designating a 

simple, easy-to-remember, 3-digit 

dialing code to be used for a national 

suicide prevention and mental health 

crisis hotline system; and (2) analyze 

how well the current National Suicide 

Prevention Lifeline is working to 

address the needs of veterans. The Act 

also directed the Commission to 

coordinate with the Department of 

Health and Human Services’ Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA), the 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 

North American Numbering Council 

(NANC) in conducting the study, and to 

produce a report on the study by August 

14, 2019. 

On August 14, 2019, the Wireline 

Competition Bureau and Office of 

Economics and Analytics submitted its 

report to Congress recommending that: 

(1) A 3-digit dialing code be used for a 

national suicide prevention and mental 

health crisis hotline system; and (2) the 

Commission should initiate a 

rulemaking proceeding to consider 

designating 988 as the 3-digit code. 

On December 12, 2019, the 

Commission released a notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing 

to designate 988 as a new, nationwide, 

3-digit dialing code for a suicide 

prevention and mental health crisis 

hotline. WC Docket No. 18–336. The 

NPRM proposes that calls made to 988 

be directed to the existing National 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is 

made up of an expansive network of 

over 170 crisis centers located across the 

United States, and to the Veterans Crisis 

Line. The NPRM also proposes to 

require all telecommunications carriers 

and interconnected VoIP service 

providers to make, within 18 months, 

any changes necessary to ensure that 

users can dial 988 to reach the National 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline and 

Veterans Crisis Line. 

On July 16, 2020, the Commission 

adopted an Order designating 988 as the 

3-digit number to reach the Lifeline and 

Veterans Crisis Line (800–273–TALK or 

800–273–8255) and requiring all 

telecommunications carriers, 

interconnected voice over internet 

Protocol (VoIP) providers, and one-way 

VoIP providers to make any network 

changes necessary to ensure that users 

can dial 988 to reach the Lifeline by July 

16, 2022. 

On October 16, 2020, the 

Communications Equality Advocates 

filed a petition for partial 

reconsideration of the FCC’s July 16, 

2020 Report and Order. In their petition, 

Communications Equality Advocates 

requested that the FCC revise the Order 

to mandate text-to-988 and direct video 

calling (DVC) requirements and to have 

such requirements be implemented on 

the same timeline as voice calls to 988, 

by July 16, 2022. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/15/20 85 FR 2359 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/16/20 

Report & Order ... 07/16/20 

PFR ..................... 10/16/20 

Oppositions Due 12/02/20 

Replies Due ........ 12/14/20 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michelle Sclater, 

Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau, 


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Federal Communications Commission, 

Wireline Competition Bureau, 45 L 

Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, 

Phone: 202 418–0388, Email: 

michelle.sclater@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL01 

359. Modernizing Unbundling and 

Resale Requirements in an Era of NextGeneration Networks and Services 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 10; 47 

U.S.C. 251 

Abstract: On November 22, 2019, the 

Commission adopted a Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking 

comment on proposals to update the 

unbundling and avoided-cost resale 

obligations stemming from the 1996 Act 

and applicable only to incumbent LECs. 

Many of these obligations appear to no 

longer be necessary in many geographic 

areas due to vigorous competition for 

mass market broadband services in 

urban areas and numerous intermodal 

voice capabilities and services. But 

recognizing that rural areas pose special 

challenges for broadband deployment, 

the NPRM did not propose any change 

to unbundling requirements for 

broadband-capable loops in rural areas. 

The NPRM sought to promote the 

Commission’s efforts to reduce 

unnecessary and outdated regulatory 

burdens that appear to discourage the 

deployment of next-generation 

networks, delay the IP transition, 

unnecessarily burden incumbent LECs 

with no similar obligations placed on 

their competitors, and no longer benefit 

consumers or serve the purpose for 

which they were intended. 

On October 27, 2020, the Commission 

adopted a Report and Order (1) 

eliminating unbundling requirements, 

subject to a reasonable transition period, 

for enterprise-grade DS1 and DS3 loops 

where there is evidence of actual and 

potential competition, for broadbandcapable DS0 loops and associated 

subloops in the most densely populated 

areas, and for voice-grade narrowband 

loops nationwide, but preserving 

unbundling requirements for DS0 loops 

in less densely populated areas and DS1 

and DS3 loops in areas without 

sufficient evidence of competition; (2) 

eliminating unbundling requirements 

for network interface devices and 

multiunit premises subloops; (3) 

eliminating unbundled dark fiber 

transport provisioned from wire centers 

within a half-mile of competitive fiber 

networks, but providing an eight-year 

transition period for existing circuits so 

as to avoid stranding investment and 

last-mile deployment by competitive 

LECs that may harm consumers; (4) 

eliminating unbundling requirements 

for operations support systems, except 

where carriers are continuing to manage 

UNEs and for purposes of local 

interconnection and local number 

portability; and (5) eliminating 

remaining avoided-cost resale 

requirements. The Report and Order 

ended unbundling and resale 

requirements where they stifle 

technology transitions and broadband 

deployment, but preserved unbundling 

requirements where they are still 

necessary to realize the 1996 Act’s goal 

of robust intermodal competition 

benefiting all Americans. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 01/06/20 85 FR 472 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

03/06/20 

Report & Order ... 01/08/21 86 FR 1636 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Michele Berlove, 

Special Counsel, Competition Policy 

Div., WCB, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE., Washington, 

DC 20554, Phone: 202 418–1477, Email: 

michele.berlove@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL02 

360. Eliminating Ex Ante Pricing 

Regulation and Tariffing of Telephone 

Access Charges (WC Docket 20–71) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151; 47 

U.S.C. 154(i); 47 U.S.C. 160; 47 U.S.C. 

201 to 203; 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 225; 

47 U.S.C. 251; 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 U.S.C. 

303(r); 47 U.S.C. 616 

Abstract: The NPRM proposes to 

deregulate and detariff Telephone 

Access Charges, which represent the last 

handful of interstate end-user charges 

that remain subject to regulation. The 

Notice also proposes to prohibit all 

carriers from separately listing these 

charges on customers’ bills. given that 

some Telephone Access Charges are 

used to calculate contributions to the 

Federal Universal Service Fund and 

other federal programs as well as high 

cost support this Notice also proposes 

and seeks comment on ways to ensure 

stability in funding these programs. 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 04/01/20 85 FR 30899 

Next Action Undetermined.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Victoria Goldberg, 

Attorney-Advisor, Federal 

Communications Commission, Wireline 

Competition Bureau, 45 L Street NE, 

Washington, DC 20554, Phone: 202 418– 

7353, Email: victoria.goldberg@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AL03 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION (FCC) 

Wireline Competition Bureau 

Completed Actions 

361. Service Quality Measurement Plan 

for Interstate Special Access (WC 

Docket No. 02–112; CC Docket No. 00– 

175; WC Docket No. 06–120) 

Legal Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151 and 

152; 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j); 47 U.S.C. 

201 to 204; 47 U.S.C. 214; 47 U.S.C. 

220(a); 47 U.S.C. 251 and 252; 47 U.S.C. 

272; 47 U.S.C. 303(r) 

Abstract: Pursuant to the 

Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended, the Commission imposed two 

information collections as conditions of 

substantial regulatory relief granted to 

the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs), 

including their independent incumbent 

local exchange carrier affiliates. The 

first information collection requires the 

BOCs, including their independent 

incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) 

affiliates, to report special access 

performance metrics on a quarterly 

basis. The second information collection 

required the BOCs, and their 

independent incumbent LEC affiliates, 

to provide their residential customers 

with the total number of long distance 

telecommunications service minutes 

they use each month. The second 

information collection expired in 2011. 

On May 4, 2018, USTelecom filed a 

forbearance petition in which it sought 

forbearance from, among other things, 

obligations under section 272 of the 

Communications Act, including special 

access performance metrics reporting 

requirements for all carriers. See 

Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance 

Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 160(c) to 

Accelerate Investment in Broadband 

and Next-Generation Networks, WC 

Docket No. 18–141 (filed May 4, 2018). 

The Commission has sought comment 

on the USTelecom petition—Petition of 

USTelecom for Forbearance Pursuant to 

47 U.S.C. 160(c) to Accelerate 

Investment in Broadband and NextGeneration Networks, WC Docket No. 

18–141, Order, DA 18–574 (June 1, 

2018). 

Comments and oppositions were due 

June 7, 2018, and replies by June 22, 

2018 (DA18–475). These dates were 

extended until August 6, 2018, and 

September 5, 2018 (DA–18–574). The 

Commission extended the date by 

which the petition would be deemed 


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41358 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / UA: Reg Flex Agenda 

granted in the absence of a Commission 

decision that the petition fails to meet 

the standards for forbearance under 

section 10(a) of the Act by 90 days until 

August 2, 2019. (DA 19–75). 

The Commission terminated these 

two information collections. See 

Petition of USTelecom for Forbearance 

Pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 160(c) to 

Accelerate Investment in Broadband 

and Next-Generation Networks, 

Memorandum Opinion and Order, WC 

Docket No. 18–141, FCC 19–31 (April 

15, 2019). 

Timetable: 

Action Date FR Cite 

NPRM .................. 10/02/01 66 FR 50139 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

11/01/01 

NPRM .................. 05/29/03 68 FR 32007 

NPRM Comment 

Period End.

06/30/03 

Action Date FR Cite 

R&O .................... 10/12/07 72 FR 58021 

NPRM .................. 01/22/13 78 FR 4369 

R&O .................... 11/13/13 78 FR 67956 

FNPRM ............... 11/13/13 78 FR 68005 

FNPRM Comment 

Period End.

12/20/13 

FNPRM Reply 

Comment Period End.

01/13/14 

OMB Approval ..... 06/12/14 79 FR 33709 

Inactive per 

Maura 

McGowan.

03/31/16 

Notice and Request for Comment.05/16/17 82 FR 22545 

Comment Period 

End.

07/17/17 

OMB Approval ..... 09/06/17 

US Telecom Petition for Forbearance Comment 

Period End.

08/06/18 

Action Date FR Cite 

US Telecom Petition for Forbearance Reply 

Comment Period End.

09/05/18 

Withdrawn ........... 03/31/21 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

Required: Yes. 

Agency Contact: Heather 

Hendrickson, Federal Communications 

Commission, Wireline Competition 

Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 

20554, Phone: 202 418–7295, Email: 

heather.hendrickson@fcc.gov. 

RIN: 3060–AJ08 

[FR Doc. 2021–14879 Filed 7–29–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 


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