FCC Chairman Carr Unveils Build America Agenda

Last week, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr delivered the first major policy speech of his chairmanship in Sioux Falls, S.D., in which he outlined his “Build America Agenda” for the FCC. 

The agenda includes 

• Accelerating high-speed broadband deployment by eliminating unnecessary regulations, including updating the FCC's pole attachment rules.
• Freeing up critical spectrum to restore U.S. leadership in wireless connectivity. 
• Modernizing FCC operations to streamline processes and lower build costs.
• Strengthening network security to keep America ahead in critical technologies like 5G, 6G and AI.
• Investing in workforce development to create safer, higher-wage jobs in telecom.

View the speech on-demand.

FCC Announces Tentative Agenda for July 24 Open Meeting

The FCC announced the tentative agenda for its July 24 Open Meeting, where it will consider:

• Accelerating Upgrade Away from Old Copper Line Networks – A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes and seeks comment on revisions to the FCC's network change disclosure rules and section 214(a) discontinuance processes to eliminate regulatory barriers and costs, thus encouraging the swift transition to IP-based networks and advanced communications services for consumers.
• Removing Barriers to Broadband Deployment and Investment – A Fifth Report and Order, a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Orders on Reconsideration to promote broadband infrastructure deployment by ensuring greater collaboration between utilities and attachers, establishing a timeline for large pole attachment requests, implementing other improvements to the pole attachment timeline, and speeding up the contractor approval process. The FCC would seek comment on ways to further facilitate the pole attachment process and on defining the term “pole” for purposes of section 224, and would resolve two petitions for reconsideration of prior FCC action.
• Moving Closer to AWS-3 Spectrum Auction – A Report and Order and Second Report and Order that would update 10-year-old AWS-3 service-specific designated entity eligibility requirements to bring those requirements, along with related eligibility requirements contained in the part 1 competitive bidding rules, in line with the FCC's current auctions practice.
• Streamlined Repeal of Outdated and Obsolete Rules – A Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure and clarify the potential use of the direct final rule procedure in other circumstances in the future.
• Improved Truth-in-Billing and Slamming Rules – An NPRM proposing to modernize and simplify the FCC's slamming and Truth-in-Billing rules to reflect the evolution of the telecommunications marketplace, retain core consumer protections against unauthorized carrier switches and charges and reduce regulatory burdens that can stifle innovation.
• 988 Text Georouting to Improve Access to the 988 Lifeline – A Report and Order that would adopt rules to require wireless providers to transmit data that enables text messages sent to the 988 Lifeline to be routed to the closest local crisis center based on a person’s general geographic location.

FCC Updates Interim Eligible Locations File and

Waives July 1 Certification for Enhanced A-CAM Carriers

The FCC issued a public notice providing an updated list of locations eligible for Enhanced Alternative Connect America Cost Model support. The bureau also clarified an Enhanced A-CAM recipient’s obligated locations will be used to determine any potential support reductions.

Additionally, the Wireline Competition Bureau, on its own motion, issued an order providing a limited waiver of the July 1, 2025 deadline to certify FCC Form 481 for carriers authorized for Enhanced A-CAM support. Carriers that do not receive EA-CAM support must certify the required FCC Form 481 annual report by July 1, 2025. The bureau said certain certification requirements have not yet become effective for EA-CAM carriers, and found special circumstances warrant a waiver of the July 1 deadline for those providers.

FCC Initiate 2026 Urban Rate Survey

The FCC's Office of Economics and Analytics and the Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice initiating the urban rate survey for 2026. The information collected will be used to develop voice and broadband reasonable comparability benchmarks that will be in place in 2026. They said notifications to providers required to complete a survey will be sent via email to each selected provider’s Broadband Data Collection contact person and certifying official on or about July 7, 2025. The email will provide information on how to access and complete the online survey report form and obtain technical assistance. Completed surveys are due August 15, 2025.

Order Circulated to Reject Request to Extend COVID-Era Waiver

FCC Chairman Carr circulated an order that would save the American public millions of dollars by rejecting a request to expand a COVID-era waiver. He said the circulated order denies a request by certain Lifeline providers to extend the FCC’s waiver of the Lifeline Program’s non-usage rules. Petitioners asked the FCC to interpret the COVID-era waiver as extending one additional day to allow them to receive federal subsidies for an entire additional month, notwithstanding the continued non-usage of the service.

Broadband Data Collection Filing Window Opens, Updates Released for Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric

The Broadband Data Task Force issued a public notice announcing the seventh Broadband Data Collection filing window for submitting broadband availability and other data as of June 30, 2025, opened on July 1, 2025. The task force also said the June 2025 update of the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric is being made available to existing Fabric licensees.

Facilities-based broadband service providers may now submit data into the BDC system specifying where they made mass-market broadband internet access service available. Such entities and providers of fixed and mobile voice services must also submit their June 30, 2025 subscription data required under Form 477 into the BDC system.

All availability and subscription data must be submitted no later than September 2, 2025.

Supreme Court Denies Consumers' Research Rehearing Petition

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Consumers’ Research, et al.’s petitions for rehearing of the court’s decision to deny their petitions for writ of certiorari that challenged decisions in the 6th and 11th circuit courts on the quarterly contribution factors. Previously, on June 27, the Supreme Court reversed a 5th Circuit decision granting Consumers’ Research, et al.’s petition for review of the first quarter 2022 universal service contribution factor.