FCC Reform

The Federal Communications Commission recently requested public comment on all of its rules and guidelines in an effort to identify unnecessary regulatory burdens—an undertaking comically called the “Delete, Delete, Delete” docket. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says he aims to “clear out the regulatory underbrush.” While this deregulation initiative is a step in the right direction, Carr could be more ambitious.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced initial findings and anticipated savings resulting from a top-to-bottom review of agency contracts.  The FCC has undertaken this review consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order 14222, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Cost Efficiency Initiative.”  The FCC’s initial work has reviewed contracts with a focus on identifying areas of redundancy and overspending.

Whatever notions one may have entertained in the past—or may still entertain—regarding the Federal Communications Commission as a so-called “independent” agency, it’s obvious that those notions may not hold true much longer. To be clear, the FCC’s supposed independence rests primarily on the claim that the agency’s commissioners may not be removed by the president without good cause and, as the Supreme Court put it in its landmark Humphrey’s Executor v.

While it’s not common for an Federal Communications Commission issue to face the court of last resort, two combined lawsuits recently heard before the bench—Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers' Research and Schools, Health & Libraries Coalition v. Consumers' Research—could put millions of anchor institutions, rural communities and American families nationwide in real jeopardy of losing connectivity.

President Trump’s vision for restoring constitutional government is finally taking shape, and nowhere is that more urgently needed than at the Federal Communications Commission. With the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, the federal bureaucracy has been put on notice: bloat, redundancy, and mission creep are no longer acceptable. Agencies must operate within clear constitutional boundaries and serve the public interest, not their own expansion. The FCC is a prime candidate for DOGE-style reform.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr could not have found a much more sympathetic interviewer than Ajit Pai, Chair of the FCC during the first Trump Administration. That left the conversation between the current and former FCC chairs at this week's CTIA 5G Summit 2025 devoid of fireworks, but it did cast a little light on Chairman Carr's policy priorities. His first goal is one that few voices in Congress publicly object to: securing a renewal of the FCC’s authority to

The National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients and Consumer Action, the Consumer Federation of America, Electronic Privacy Information Center, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumers League, Public Knowledge, U.S. PIRG, and the Utility Reform Network, submitted reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete request for comments. The remarks focus on consumer protections against robocalls.

Public Knowledge submitted reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete request for comments. Public Knowledge's comments focus on the insufficient legal basis for the Delete, Delete, Delete proceeding. "Public Knowledge urges the FCC to terminate this unlawful proceeding and follow the appropriate steps, as outlined by law, if it seeks to delete, delete, delete some of the very rules that protect the public the most. The Commission must remember its core constituency—the public, not the President.

The New York State Department of Public Service submitted reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete request for comments. NYSPSC's remarks focus on advocating for programs and regulations that other commenters recommended be deleted. "While many commenters suggested eliminating or modifying various rules, the NYSPSC believes that several of the rules identified by recently-submitted comments still serve the public interest and, therefore, the NYSPSC opposes their elimination within the context of this proceeding.

NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association submitted reply comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete request for comments. NTCA's reply comments touched on a number of topics, including the Universal Service Fund. "NTCA urges the Commission to reject those questioning the need for universal service programs.