FCC Trims 1,274 Rules; Commerce, FTC Act on Trade, Fees, and Warranty Compliance

FCC Eliminates Obsolete Wireless Rules — Seventh in Series

The Federal Communications Commission adopted a direct final rule on March 26, 2026, eliminating rules it describes as outdated, obsolete, and unnecessary across 47 CFR parts 1, 73, 90, and 95. The action is designated GN Docket No. 25-133, FCC 26-15. The rule states that this seventh installment in the Commission's ongoing series will bring the cumulative total eliminated to approximately 1,274 rule provisions, 149,566 words, and more than 338 pages from the Code of Federal Regulations. The Commission describes the series' objective as streamlining, simplifying, and "smartly deregulating across multiple fronts simultaneously to better serve the public and support technological progress," and states that the goals include reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, accelerating infrastructure deployment, promoting network modernization, and spurring innovation.

The rule takes effect August 21, 2026, without further action, unless adverse comment is received by July 13, 2026. If adverse comment is received, the Commission states it will publish a timely withdrawal of the rule in the Federal Register. Comments must be filed in GN Docket No. 25-133 via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System. The Commission has determined the rule is "non-major" under the Congressional Review Act and will transmit a copy to Congress and the Government Accountability Office.

Super Micro Seeks FTZ Production Authority for AI Servers in California

Super Micro Computer, Inc. submitted a notification of proposed production activity to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board on June 16, 2026, for its facilities in San Jose, Milpitas, and Fremont, California, within Foreign-Trade Zone 18. The notification conforms to the requirements of 15 CFR 400.22. Proposed finished products include liquid cooling systems for servers, artificial intelligence computer server systems, data storage servers, server subassemblies, and data networking servers, with duty rates ranging from duty-free to 4.2%. Foreign-status materials and components listed in the notification include graphics processing units, central processing units, dynamic random access memory modules, solid state drives, hard disk drives, printed circuit assemblies, server processing units, steel chassis, metal rack server enclosures, and related items, also with duty rates ranging from duty-free to 4.2%.

The notification indicates that certain materials and components are subject to duties under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, or section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, depending on country of origin, and that applicable decisions require such merchandise to be admitted to FTZs in privileged foreign status under 19 CFR 146.41. Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ production activity would be limited to the specific foreign-status materials and finished products described and subsequently authorized by the Board. The public comment period closes August 3, 2026.

ITA Raises Export and Investment Promotion Fees, Effective July 22

The International Trade Administration is implementing a revised User Fee Schedule for its export and investment promotion services and events, effective July 22, 2026. The agency states that an independent cost study concluded ITA was not fully covering its costs for providing services under the current fee structure, and that the revisions are being made to align with OMB Circular A-25, which directs agencies to assess user fees when a service provides special benefits to an identifiable recipient beyond those accruing to the general public. The prior User Fee Schedule was published July 1, 2018.

Among the key changes, the agency states that previously listed discounts for small and medium enterprises are no longer available and that fees for several standardized services have been adjusted to comply with the federal full cost recovery policy. The revised schedule clarifies that fees cover ITA staff time only and do not include other direct costs such as transportation, venue rental, and catering, which will incur an additional user fee. New services added to the schedule include Trade Missions under the Export Promotion Services heading; Matrix, One Country Report, Potential Partner List, and REC Check under a Rural Export Center Services heading; and a Trade Event Partnership Program with a Basic Package under Services for Trade Show Organizers. ITA states it will accept comments on the revised schedule on a rolling basis and that public input will be used to inform any future fee schedule revisions.

Commerce Finalizes Antidumping Review on Chinese Refrigerant R-134a

The Department of Commerce finalized the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's Republic of China for the period of review April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, with results applicable June 22, 2026. Commerce found that Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Sanmei Chemicals Co., Ltd., and Fujian Qingliu Dongying Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd. — collectively treated as Sanmei — as well as 23 additional companies under review, are not eligible to receive a separate rate and are therefore part of the China-wide entity. Commerce determined that Sanmei failed to provide a complete response to Commerce's initial questionnaire, and that none of the 23 other companies timely filed a separate rate application or separate rate certification.

Commerce published preliminary results on March 12, 2026, and received no comments, making no changes for the final results. Because no party requested a review of the China-wide entity and Commerce no longer considers it as an exporter conditionally subject to administrative reviews, Commerce did not conduct a review of the China-wide entity. The weighted-average dumping margin for the China-wide entity — 167.02 percent — is not subject to change.

FTC Seeks Comment on Renewal of Pre-Sale Warranty Disclosure Rule

The Federal Trade Commission is requesting public comment on a proposal to ask OMB to extend for three years the Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for the Pre-Sale Availability of Written Warranty Terms Rule, 16 CFR part 702. The current clearance expires on July 31, 2026, and comments must be received by July 22, 2026. The Rule requires sellers and warrantors to make the text of any written warranty on a consumer product costing more than $15 available to the consumer before sale, and has no recordkeeping or reporting requirements.

The FTC estimates annual burden at 2,611,826 hours — comprised of 143,721 hours for manufacturers and 2,468,105 hours for retailers. Estimated annual labor costs are $74,437,041, derived from $39,177,390 for sales associates and $35,259,651 for clerical workers. The Commission notes this labor cost estimate is updated from the prior estimate of $73,131,128 included in the 60-day Federal Register notice, based on more current Bureau of Labor Statistics data made publicly available on May 15, 2026. The Commission first sought comment on the disclosure requirements on March 30, 2026, and received no relevant comments at that stage.

What to Watch

• July 13, 2026 — Deadline for adverse comments on the FCC's direct final rule deleting obsolete regulations (GN Docket No. 25-133); rule takes effect August 21, 2026, absent adverse comment.
• July 22, 2026 — ITA revised User Fee Schedule takes effect; also the deadline for FTC comments on the Pre-Sale Availability Rule PRA renewal.
• August 3, 2026 — Close of public comment period on Super Micro Computer's FTZ 18 production notification before the Foreign-Trade Zones Board.