Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection; Modernizing the FCC Form 477 Data Program; Delete, Delete, Delete

Document 2026-12767 is a Proposed Rule published by the Federal Communications Commission in the Federal Register on June 24, 2026. In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that seeks comment on eliminating outdated requirements and ways to enhance the efficiency of the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) while ensuring that the Commission continues to receive accurate, granular data. Building off the infrastructure data-based coverage restoration process established by the Commission in 2024, the FNPRM seeks comment on several approaches suggested by commenters to simplify, streamline, or otherwise reduce burdens on this coverage restoration process. The FNPRM seeks comment on several ways to simplify the collection of fixed and fixed wireless biannual submissions, specifically on: (1) either allowing providers to indicate certain fixed broadband availability data have been "grandfathered" or else simply eliminating the collection of these data; (2) eliminating the requirement that a provider report fixed broadband availability data at speeds below 25/3 Mbps as part of its biannual submission; (3) revising the Commission's rules to eliminate the requirement for providers to use and disclose maximum buffer size data in their BDC biannual submissions; and (4) revising the Commission's rules to relax the 7 meter antenna height requirement that fixed wireless providers must use when modeling their coverage. In addition, the FNPRM seeks comment on ending legacy data collections for mobile service, specifically the collection of 3G mobile broadband availability data and mobile voice data as part of a provider's biannual submission, including potential impacts on reporting for Alaska and on relevant USF programs, respectively. Furthermore, the FNPRM seeks comment on current data retention practices to develop a set of best practices instead of adopting any substantive rule. The FNPRM seeks comment on several potential challenge process improvements, specifically on: (1) allowing service providers to presumptively rebut cer View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12767/establishing-the-digital-opportunity-data-collection-modernizing-the-fcc-form-477-data-program.

No. Document 2026-12767 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.