Rule2026-01442
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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 26, 2026
Effective
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) continues its efforts to modernize regulatory framework by rescinding facially obsolete provisions of its rules. The Commission has undertaken a sweeping review aimed at eliminating outdated rules, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, accelerating infrastructure deployment, promoting network modernization, and spurring innovation. The Commission's objective is to streamline, simplify, and smartly deregulate across multiple fronts simultaneously to better serve the public and support technological progress.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3067-3070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01442]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 2, 15 and 18
[ET Docket No. 25-133; FCC 25-85; FR ID 326738]
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AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission or FCC) continues its efforts to modernize regulatory
framework by rescinding facially obsolete provisions of its rules. The
Commission has undertaken a sweeping review aimed at eliminating
outdated rules, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, accelerating
infrastructure deployment, promoting network modernization, and
spurring innovation. The Commission's objective is to streamline,
simplify, and smartly deregulate across multiple fronts simultaneously
to better serve the public and support technological progress.
DATES: Effective March 27, 2026, unless significant adverse comments
are received on or before February 17, 2026. In the event the
Commission receives significant adverse comments, the Commission will
publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the
public the provisions of the rule(s) for which significant adverse
comments were received and elimination will not take effect.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ET Docket No. 25-133,
electronically or on paper. For detailed instructions for submitting
comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Burke of the Office of
Engineering and Technology, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ec5effae6e2ebebe0a0ccfbfce5ebcee8ededa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6fdd7c2dedad3d3d898f4c3c4ddd3f6d0d5d598d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-418-7225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Direct
Final Rule, in ET Docket No. 25-133, FCC 25-85, adopted on December 18,
2025, and released on December 19, 2025. The full text of this document
is available for public inspection and can be downloaded at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-deletes-outdated-rules-long-forgotten-technologies-0">https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-deletes-outdated-rules-long-forgotten-technologies-0</a>. Alternative formats are available for people with
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) by
sending an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#45232626707571052326266b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="21474242141115614742420f464e57">[email protected]</span></a> or calling the Commission's Consumer
and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-
0432 (TTY).
Comment Period and Filing Procedures. Interested parties may file
comments on or before the dates provided in the DATES section of this
document. Comments must be filed in GN Docket No. 25-133. Comments may
be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
63 FR 24121 (1998).
<bullet> All filings must be addressed to the Commission's
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
<bullet> Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/</a>.
<bullet> Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.
<bullet> Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive,
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
<bullet> U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
Procedural Matters
Paperwork Reduction Act. This document does not contain new or
modified information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521. In addition, therefore, it does not
contain any new or modified information collection burden for small
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
Congressional Review Act. The Commission has determined, and the
Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, concurs, that this rule is ``non-
major'' under the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 804(2). The
Commission will send a copy of this Direct Final Rule to Congress and
the Government Accountability Office pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
Synopsis
Introduction
In initiating this proceeding, the Commission generally sought to
identify rules that are obsolete, outdated,
[[Page 3068]]
unlawful, anticompetitive, or otherwise no longer in the public
interest. The Commission specifically focuses on the repeal of certain
rules managed by the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) in
parts 2, 15, and 18 for which prior notice and comment are unnecessary,
but for which the Commission elects to provide an opportunity for input
on that assessment. Absent any significant adverse comments in response
to this document, these rules will be repealed.
Background
Good Cause to Forgo Notice and Comment. Under the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA), when an agency for good cause finds that notice
and public comment ``are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest,'' it need not follow notice and comment procedures
before modifying or repealing rules. Prior notice and comment are
``unnecessary'' when ``the administrative rule is a routine
determination, insignificant in nature and impact, and inconsequential
to the industry and to the public.''
The Commission has identified 36 rule provisions, totaling 12,008
words and covering more than 25 pages in the Code of Federal
Regulations, that no longer serve the public interest because they
regulate obsolete technology, are no longer used in practice by the
FCC, industry, or the public, or are otherwise outdated or unnecessary.
Applying the ``good cause'' standard discussed above, the Commission
concludes that prior notice and comment are unnecessary before
repealing the rules identified in the Appendix.
Direct Final Rule Process. In this document, the Commission follows
the processes previously outlined by the Commission regarding direct
final rules, which it briefly summarize here. When the Commission has
found that prior notice and comment is unnecessary before modifying or
repealing rules, it has adopted the relevant rule change without any
additional process. Although the Commission reserves the right to
proceed in this manner, it elects in this decision to proceed using
what is known as a ``direct final rule'' process. By proceeding through
a direct final rule, the Commission chooses to provide expanded
opportunities for public comment even though the ``good cause''
standard does not legally require it to do so. Under a direct final
rule process, rule changes are adopted without prior notice and
comment, but are accompanied by an opportunity for the public to file
comments--and if the Commission concludes that significant adverse
comments have been filed, the relevant rule changes would not take
effect until after a full notice and comment process.
In particular, the Commission will publish this item adopting
direct final rules in the Federal Register, and allow for comment from
interested parties within 20 days of Federal Register publication.
Until 20 days after Federal Register publication, this shall be a
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex
parte rules. Because this comment process is directed toward the
discrete objective of the direct final rule process, and to avoid
unwarranted delay in that process, the Commission prohibits filings
addressing the rule changes contemplated in this document more than 20
days after Federal Register publication, absent further direction from
the Commission published in the Federal Register. This both accords
with the purpose of the comment process for direct final rules, and is
similar (though not identical) to actions the Commission has taken in
other contexts to provide a defined end-point for public filings to
enable the Commission to focus its attention on the submissions already
before it.
The rule revisions in this document will go into effect 60 days
after Federal Register publication. If the Commission receives comments
on these rule revisions, it will evaluate whether there are significant
adverse comments that warrant further procedures before changing the
rules. In its assessment, the Commission plans to be guided by the
recommendation of the Administrative Conference of the United States
(``ACUS'') that ``[a]n agency should consider any comment received
during direct final rulemaking to be a significant adverse comment if
the comment explains why: a. The [direct final] rule would be
inappropriate, including challenges to the rule's underlying premise or
approach; or b. The [direct final] rule would be ineffective or
unacceptable without a change.''
If the Commission concludes that a significant adverse comment has
been filed, the Office of Engineering and Technology will publish a
timely withdrawal in the Federal Register to prevent the rule revisions
from going into effect until any appropriate additional procedures have
been followed. If a significant adverse comment is filed only with
respect to a subset of the rule revisions addressed by this document,
the Office of Engineering and Technology will withdraw the portions of
the Direct Final Rule that were subject to the significant adverse
comment. For example, if a significant adverse comment is filed
regarding a single rule within this document, which contains multiple
rule revisions, the Commission will publish a withdrawal of only the
rule addressed by the significant adverse comment.
In the event that no comments are filed in response to this
document, the Commission does not anticipate publishing a confirmation
of the effective date in the Federal Register but will simply allow the
rule changes to take effect as originally specified. If comments are
filed but none are deemed significant adverse comments, where warranted
by the record the Office of Engineering and Technology will issue a
Public Notice (PN) that briefly explains why the comments filed were
not determined to be significant adverse comments.
Ordering Clauses
Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j),
and 303(r) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), and
303(r), the Direct Final Rule is adopted. Except as specified in
paragraph 8, this Direct Final Rule shall be effective upon Federal
Register publication of the rule changes set forth in the Appendix,
which shall also serve as the date of public notice of that action.
It is further ordered that the amendments of the Commission's rules
as set forth in Appendix A shall be effective 60 days after Federal
Register publication. In the event that significant adverse comments
are filed, the Office of Engineering and Technology shall publish a
timely document in the Federal Register withdrawing the rule so that
the rule change does not become effective until any additional
procedures have been followed. In the event that significant adverse
comments are filed with respect to only a subset of the rule revisions,
the Commission directs the Office of Engineering and Technology to
publish a timely document in the Federal Register withdrawing only such
rule(s) so that the rule change does not become effective until any
additional procedures have been followed.
It is further ordered that the Office of the Managing Director,
Performance Program Management, shall send a copy of this document in a
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
[[Page 3069]]
List of Subjects
47 CFR Part 2
Administrative practice and procedures, Common carriers,
Communications, Communications common carriers, Communications
equipment, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Telecommunications.
47 CFR Part 15
Communications equipment, Computer technology, Labeling, Radio,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Telephone,
Wiretapping and electronic surveillance.
47 CFR Part 18
Business and industry, Household appliances, Medical devices,
Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
Direct Final Rules
For the reasons set forth above, the Federal Communications
Commission amends parts 2, 15, and 18 of title 47 of the Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL
RULES AND REGULATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, and 336, unless otherwise
noted.
Subpart I--Marketing of Radio-Frequency Devices
Sec. 2.813 [Removed and Reserved]
0
2. Remove and reserve Sec. 2.813.
Sec. 2.1033 [Amended]
0
3. Amend Sec. 2.1033 by removing and reserving paragraph (b)(13).
PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES
0
4. The authority citation for part 15 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, 304, 307, 336, 544a, and
549.
Subpart A--General
Sec. 15.25 [Removed and Reserved]
0
5. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.25.
Sec. 15.37 [Amended]
0
6. Amend Sec. 15.37 by removing and reserving paragraphs (a), (e),
(f), and (j) through (r).
Subpart B--Unintentional Radiators
Sec. 15.117 [Amended]
0
7. Amend Sec. 15.117 by removing and reserving paragraphs (f) and (g).
Sec. 15.118 [Removed and Reserved]
0
8. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.118.
Sec. 15.120 [Amended]
0
9. Amend Sec. 15.120 by removing and reserving paragraphs (c)(1) and
(d)(1).
Sec. 15.121 [Removed and Reserved]
0
10. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.121.
Subpart C--Intentional Radiators
0
11. Amend Sec. 15.205 by revising the table in paragraph (a) to read
as follows:
Sec. 15.205 Restricted bands of operation.
(a) * * *
Table 1 to Paragraph (a)
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MHz MHz MHz GHz
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0.090-0.110....................... 16.42-16.423......... 399.9-410............ 4.5-5.15.
0.495-0.505....................... 16.69475-16.69525.... 608-614.............. 5.35-5.46.
2.1735-2.1905..................... 16.80425-16.80475.... 960-1240............. 7.25-7.75.
4.125-4.128....................... 25.5-25.67........... 1300-1427............ 8.025-8.5.
4.17725-4.17775................... 37.5-38.25........... 1435-1626.5.......... 9.0-9.2.
4.20725-4.20775................... 73-74.6.............. 1645.5-1646.5........ 9.3-9.5.
6.215-6.218....................... 74.8-75.2............ 1660-1710............ 10.6-12.7.
6.26775-6.26825................... 108-121.94........... 1718.8-1722.2........ 13.25-13.4.
6.31175-6.31225................... 123-138.............. 2200-2300............ 14.47-14.5.
8.291-8.294....................... 149.9-150.05......... 2310-2390............ 15.35-16.2.
8.362-8.366....................... 156.52475-156.52525.. 2483.5-2500.......... 17.7-21.4.
8.37625-8.38675................... 156.7-156.9.......... 2690-2900............ 22.01-23.12.
8.41425-8.41475................... 162.0125-167.17...... 3260-3267............ 23.6-24.0.
12.29-12.293...................... 167.72-173.2......... 3332-3339............ 31.2-31.8.
12.51975-12.52025................. 240-285.............. 3345.8-3358.......... 36.43-36.5.
12.57675-12.57725................. 322-335.4............ 3600-4400............ Above 38.6.
13.36-13.41.......................
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* * * * *
Sec. 15.233 [Removed and Reserved]
0
12. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.233.
Sec. 15.252 [Amended]
0
13. Amend Sec. 15.252 by removing and reserving paragraphs (a)(1)
through (3) and (b) through (d).
Subpart E--Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure Devices
Sec. 15.407 [Amended]
0
14. Amend Sec. 15.407 by removing and reserving paragraph (b)(4)(ii).
Subpart F--Ultra-Wideband Operation
Sec. 15.515 [Removed and Reserved]
0
15. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.515.
Subpart G--[Removed and Reserved]
0
16. Remove and reserve subpart G, consisting of Sec. Sec. 15.601
through 15.615.
Subpart H--White Space Devices
Sec. 15.703 [Amended]
0
17. Amend Sec. 15.703 by removing the definitions of ``Sensing only
device'' and ``Spectrum sensing''.
[[Page 3070]]
Sec. 15.709 [Amended]
0
18. Amend Sec. 15.709 by removing and reserving paragraphs (b)(3) and
(g).
Sec. 15.717 [Removed and Reserved]
0
19. Remove and reserve Sec. 15.717.
PART 18--INDUSTRIAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
0
20. The authority citation for part 18 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 304, 307.
Subpart B--Applications and Authorizations
Sec. 18.203 [Amended]
0
21. Amend Sec. 18.203 by removing and reserving paragraph (c).
[FR Doc. 2026-01442 Filed 1-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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