FCC Initiates Effort to Roll Back Regulations: “Erase, Erase, Erase”
The chair of the FCC announces an initiative aimed at dismantling outdated regulations that obstruct investments, aligning with the deregulation strategy of the Trump administration.
Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has introduced an extensive initiative for regulatory rollback that entails reviewing every existing FCC rule, regulation, or guidance document for possible revision or complete removal.
“Under President Trump’s guidance, the Administration is sparking a new era of economic opportunity by curtailing the regulatory barrage from Washington,” Carr remarked. “For too long, administrative agencies have imposed additional regulatory demands beyond their authority or maintained regulations long past their regulatory usefulness. This only slows down our nation’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.”
Carr affirmed the agency’s intention to adhere to Trump’s directives by abolishing outdated rules that obstruct investment, innovation, and competition within the communications industry.
As part of this initiative, the agency is inviting public feedback on which regulations should be altered or removed, as outlined in a public notice. The FCC will assess regulations based on criteria like economic impact, effects on small businesses, and their relevance to current technological and market dynamics.
The “Delete, Delete, Delete” initiative aligns with Carr’s overall deregulatory philosophy. In a section of the Project 2025 policy document published in 2023 by The Heritage Foundation, he stated that the FCC must evolve to keep pace with technological advancements.
“These fast-changing market conditions support the removal of many stringent FCC regulations that were put in place during a time when each technology functioned independently,” he noted. Carr pointed out antiquated media ownership regulations and universal service obligations that restrict investment and competition. “Ultimately, relying on competition and innovation is crucial for the FCC to achieve the best results for the American populace,” he articulated. He emphasized the need for the agency to conduct a “comprehensive review of its regulations and act to repeal any that are excessively burdensome or outdated.”