FCC Chairman Announces New Deregulation Docket

On March 12, 2025, FCC Chairman Carr announced a broad deregulatory initiative dubbed “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete.”  The docket seeks comment on any FCC rule, regulation or guidance document that should be eliminated to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens.  For broadcasters, the docket presents a unique opportunity to further reduce regulatory burdens.

The public notice announcing the docket posed numerous questions that apply to any regulation on the books.  Does experience gained in the implementation of a given rule provide reason to believe that the rule is unnecessary or inappropriate, whether in its current form or otherwise?  Has the rule proven not to advance FCC policy objectives in the manner, or to the degree, originally anticipated?  Has the rule’s complexity or other compliance difficulties demonstrated that the rule is of limited usefulness and/or results in disproportionate burdens on regulated entities and the Commission’s own resources? Does experience demonstrate that a given rule has fully achieved its objective such that it no longer is needed going forward?

This is a different approach to deregulating rule by rule, which was the FCC’s approach in the last Trump administration.  So far, it’s unclear whether suggestions filed in this docket will end up getting dockets of their own.

Anyone can file comments at this link.  The deadline for doing so is Friday, April 11, 2025.