Delete x3: Next Steps for the FCC’s Deregulatory Agenda

Matt Furlow
Former Senior Director and Policy Counsel, C_TEC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Published

June 03, 2025

The Big Picture:  

Nearly a century ago, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), one of America’s oldest regulators, was founded as the Federal Radio Commission in 1927 to regulate radio broadcasts, then the emerging technology of its time. As we know, the communications marketplace has since evolved dramatically with the introduction of cable and broadcast TV, satellite communications, high-speed broadband, mobile internet, and video streaming.

These innovations combined with decades-long regulatory frameworks and major changes in administrative law demonstrated the need to prune antiquated rules and empower innovators to deliver the benefits of modern communications technologies to American consumers. As the agency nears its centennial, it is time to modernize.

What the FCC is Doing:

The FCC, spearheaded by Chairman Brendan Carr, launched a comprehensive initiative called “Delete, Delete, Delete” to right-size regulations and identify key opportunities for reform. Further, Chairman Carr is closing inactive regulatory proceedings and reversing harmful regulatory initiatives.

The Chamber’s Take:   

The U.S. Chamber’s Growth and Opportunity Initiative calls for a public policy environment to sustain three percent economic growth. The Chamber also submitted comments to the FCC outlining how to modernize regulations to connect more Americans, provide more affordable options for consumers, and enable innovation in AI, space, and next generation communications.

An Agenda for the FCC:  

Media and Video Reform :   Modernize antiquated regulations for cable, broadcast, and direct broadcast satellite to increase competition, consumer choice, and investment.
Connectivity :  Connect all Americans to high-speed broadband through permitting reform, upgrade legacy telecommunications networks, and update regulations to generate new investments.
Fair Enforcement : Pursue comprehensive reform of the FCC’s enforcement process to align it with the principles of due process.  
Limiting Lawsuit Abuse :  Right-size the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to stop illegal robocalls from bad actors instead of enabling the plaintiffs to target legitimate businesses.   
Product Innovation :  Update the FCC’s equipment authorization process to empower electronics industries to provide affordable devices to consumers.
Space :  Unleash the growing space economy to bolster communications infrastructure, earth observation, and manufacturing through regulatory streamlining.

The Bottom Line

The FCC has an opportunity to dramatically reshape its policy and regulatory frameworks to align with today’s technological, legal, and marketplace landscape. The Chamber looks forward to partnering with the FCC and others to deliver for American job creators and consumers.