FCC Removes Obsolete Regulations

The FCC adopted a Direct Final Rule as part of its broader deregulatory initiative to eliminate outdated, obsolete, or unnecessary regulations. This action is part of the “Delete, Delete, Delete” proceeding (GN Docket No. 25-133), which aims to modernize the Commission’s regulatory framework. Chairman Brendan Carr has praised the action as a significant step in cutting red tape and modernizing regulations.

The action will remove 11 outdated rule provisions—covering at least 39 regulatory burdens, and 16 pages of the FCC Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Restrictions on phone booth closures are removed, as well as captioning on analog TV receivers, auction obligations that lapsed 20 years ago, and references to long-repealed telegraph rules.

These rules were deemed obsolete due to:

• Outdated technologies (e.g., analog TV captioning, telegraph services)
• Expired deadlines (e.g., auction cost-sharing rules that sunset in 2005)
• Irrelevant market conditions (e.g., regulations on telephone booths)

The Direct Final Rule becomes effective 60 days after publication, unless withdrawn. Appendix A lists the specific rules repealed, while Appendix B updates internal delegation rules, allowing various FCC Bureaus and Offices to repeal rules under the APA’s good cause exemption without full Commission votes.

The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the action for 10 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Still, if no significant adverse comments are received, the rules identified in this proceeding will be repealed.

The following rules were removed as they were deemed obsolete, irrelevant, or no longer served the public interest:

From FCC 25-40 Appendix A:

Part 1 – Practice and Procedure (§ 1.789: Removed and reserved)

• Related to telegraph regulations repealed 14 years ago.

Part 24 – Personal Communications Services (§§ 24.239 through 24.253: Removed and reserved

• Related to post-auction cost-sharing obligations that sunset in 2005.

Part 63 – Common Carrier Services (§ 63.65: Removed and reserved)

• Required filing in quintuplicate to close public toll stations (e.g., telephone booths).

Part 79 – Accessibility of Video Programming (§ 79.101: Removed and reserved)

• Regulated closed captioning for analog broadcast television receivers.

If you have any questions about this update or how it may affect your regulatory compliance needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Nemko. Our experts are here to help you navigate changes and ensure your products continue to meet the latest requirements.