OMB Approves Open Internet Enhanced Transparency Rules

According to the Office of Management and Budget, OMB has just approved the added paperwork collection obligations of the Federal Communications Commission's Open Internet order enhanced transparency requirements. Those are the parts of the order that require ISPs to provide more information on network performance and business plans, some of which smaller operators say are disproportionately a burden on them financial and otherwise.The rules will go into effect Jan. 17.

That OMB approval came Dec. 15, the same day the FCC's one-year extension for the small business waiver of the enhanced transparency portion of its rules expired without an agreement on a renewal. To date, the waiver has not had any effect because the enhanced transparency rules were not in effect.