Data / Federal rules / 2026-07622
Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes
The Federal Communications Commission published this final rule in the Federal Register on April 20, 2026. It took effect on May 20, 2026.
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What the agency says
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Report and Order that reduces regulatory barriers and costs that hinder the transition from outdated legacy networks and services to next-generation, Internet Protocol (IP)-based infrastructure. The actions taken in the Report and Order combine common sense reforms with core consumer protections that bring the regulatory environment in line with today's communications marketplace while retaining and adopting safeguards to protect public safety and ensure 911 continuity. The Report and Order also concludes that if state or local requirements conflict with the service discontinuance framework adopted in the Report and Order, such requirements negate valid federal regulatory objectives and are subject to preemption.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-07622
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Federal Communications Commission
- Published
- April 20, 2026
- Takes effect
- May 20, 2026
- Dates
- This rule is effective May 20, 2026, except for instructions 2 (Sec. 51.329), 3 (Sec. 51.333), 6 (Sec. 63.60), 7 (Sec. 63.62), 8 (Sec. 63.63), 10 (Sec. 63.71), and 12 (Sec. 63.602), which are delayed indefinitely. The Federal Communications Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date.
- Docket
- WC Docket Nos. 25-208, 25-209; FCC 26-19; FR ID 340903
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 47 CFR 51; 47 CFR 63
- Topics
- Authority delegations (Government agencies); Cable television; Communications; Communications common carriers; Organization and functions (Government agencies); Radio; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Telecommunications; Telegraph; Telephone
- Pages
- 27
Other documents from the Federal Communications Commission
| Document | Type | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Modernizing the Commission's National Environmental Policy Act Rules 2026-21347 | Proposed rule | Oct 19 |
| Upper C-Band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band 2026-21324 | Final rule | Oct 19 |
| Petition for Reconsideration of Action in Rulemaking Proceeding; Correction 2026-21312 | Proposed rule | Oct 19 |
| Television Broadcasting Services Des Moines, Iowa 2026-21260 | Proposed rule | Oct 19 |
| Petition for Reconsideration of Action in Rulemaking Proceeding 2026-20895 | Proposed rule | Oct 13 |
| Radio Broadcasting Services; Selmer, Tennessee 2026-20464 | Final rule | Oct 6 |
| Radio Broadcasting Services; Whitehall, Michigan 2026-20463 | Final rule | Oct 6 |
| Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics Adopt 2026 Mandatory Data Collection for Incarcerated People's Communications Services 2026-20362 | Final rule | Oct 5 |
Everything from the Federal Communications Commission · Rules on authority delegations (government agencies) · Rules on cable television · Rules on communications · Published in April 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.