FCC Network Modernization Rules Take Effect October 15 After OMB Clears Paperwork Requirements

Background and Rule Adoption

On March 26, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Report and Order, FCC 26-19, published at 91 FR 20913 on April 20, 2026. According to the document, the Commission adopted rules in that order "to reduce regulatory barriers and costs that hinder the transition from outdated legacy networks and services to next-generation, Internet Protocol (IP)-based infrastructure." Because the rule changes contained new or modified information collection requirements, the Commission stated they would not become effective until the Office of Management and Budget completed its review under the Paperwork Reduction Act, and directed the Wireline Competition Bureau to announce the effective date by subsequent public notice.

OMB Approvals and Effective Date

OMB approved the two sets of information collection requirements on separate dates. On September 21, 2026, OMB approved the information collection requirements related to the service discontinuance rules, assigned OMB Control Number 3060-0149. On September 25, 2026, OMB approved the information collection requirements related to the network change disclosure rules, assigned OMB Control Number 3060-0741, with an expiration date of September 30, 2029. With both approvals in hand, the Bureau published this public notice to announce that amendments to 47 CFR §§ 51.329, 51.333, 63.60, 63.62(a), (b), and (d), 63.63, 63.71, and 63.602 are effective on October 15, 2026.

Scope of Information Collections

The document details the reporting burden associated with the network change disclosure rules under OMB Control Number 3060-0741. Respondents are described as business or other for-profit entities. The collection covers 4,452 respondents submitting 450,838 responses, with an estimated time per response of 0.5 to 4.5 hours, on an on-occasion basis that also includes recordkeeping and third-party disclosure requirements. The total annual burden is listed as 452,623 hours, with no total annual cost reported.

The document states that the statutory authority for the network change disclosure information collection is contained in 47 U.S.C. 222 and 251. As the notice explains, Section 251 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, "is designed to accelerate private sector development and deployment of telecommunications technologies and services by spurring competition," and Section 222(e) "is also designed to spur competition by prescribing requirements for the sharing of subscriber list information." The collection requirements are described as designed "to help implement certain provisions of sections 222(e) and 251, and to eliminate operational barriers to competition in the telecommunications services market."

What to Watch

The revised rules across 47 CFR parts 51 and 63 become effective October 15, 2026. OMB Control Number 3060-0741 for the network change disclosure rules expires September 30, 2029. Parties with comments on burden estimates may contact Nicole Ongele at the Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, referencing OMB Control Numbers 3060-0741 and 3060-0149.

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