Data / Federal rules / 2026-05727

Reforming Legacy Rules for an All-IP Future; Accelerating Network Modernization

The Federal Communications Commission published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 24, 2026. Comments closed on May 26, 2026.

SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. It reads every rule and proposed rule in the Federal Register each morning, and this page is that reading. Name your industry once and new rules, comment deadlines and effective dates arrive in your sheet, CRM, Slack or agent as they are published.

What the agency says

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to accelerate network modernization by proposing to reform regulations that have hindered the transition to all-internet Protocol (IP) networks. Building upon the Commission's longstanding efforts to reform the legacy intercarrier compensation (ICC) framework, the Commission proposes to move remaining ICC charges to a bill-and-keep framework and detariff them, and invites comment on this proposal. To enable carriers to recover costs from their end users, the Commission proposes to eliminate ex ante pricing regulation and tariffing of end-user charges, also referred to as Telephone Access Charges (TACs). Following the transition of ICC charges to bill-and-keep, the Commission seeks comment on phasing out Connect America Fund Intercarrier Compensation (CAF ICC) support. The NPRM also seeks comment on removing remaining regulatory obligations--including tariffing and outdated account information exchange requirements--for interstate and international long-distance services, given the longstanding competitiveness of these markets. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on the elimination of regulations that will no longer be necessary in a post-Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) environment and invites input on a transitional framework to ensure regulatory and market stability during the shift to an all-IP marketplace. Finally, the Commission encourages commenters to identify ways to promote technological modernization while enhancing long-term efficiency, competition, and service quality for consumers. In all these reforms, the Commission intends to proceed thoughtfully, mindful of the complex issues, transition timelines, and paramount connectivity goals.

Key facts

Document number

2026-05727

Type

Proposed rule

Action

Proposed rule

Agency

Federal Communications Commission

Published

March 24, 2026

Comments due

May 26, 2026

Dates

Comments are due on or before May 26, 2026; reply comments are due on or before June 22, 2026. Written comments on the Paperwork Reduction Act proposed information collection requirements must be submitted by the public, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other interested parties on or before May 26, 2026.

Docket

WC Docket Nos. 25-311, 25-208; FCC 26-11; FR ID 335397

Code of Federal Regulations

47 CFR 43; 47 CFR 51; 47 CFR 54; 47 CFR 61; 47 CFR 64; 47 CFR 69

Topics

Communications; Communications common carriers; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Telecommunications; Telephone

Pages

36

The document on federalregister.gov PDF

Other documents from the Federal Communications Commission

Everything from the Federal Communications Commission · Rules on communications · Rules on communications common carriers · Rules on reporting and recordkeeping requirements · Published in March 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.